A Weekend at Bernie's

After not playing standard for over a year I decided to get back into it after recent exciting posts by Mike.  I wanted to play a deck that would not lose a lot of cards when the rotation hits in October.  I looked for a relatively inexpensive deck that had recently won a StarCityGames open.  My choice was B/R Zombies.  I gathered all the cards quickly and set off for my first FNM in over 2 years.  I was able to pick up some wins making it into top 4 with my only loss being to a U/B Zombies deck.  I was shaky on the sideboarding, but had a strong grip on the deck mechanics.  I liked not having to know the other decks in the format to win.  With this new found confidence in standard I set my eyes on an upcoming local event - SCG DC open.

I set out with my new Zombies deck changing only 2 cards, 2 Brimstone Volleys for a 4th Blood Artist and a Killing Wave.  The power of Blood Artist with lots of creatures out and the ability to kill everything on the board would prove to be a game winner if the option presented itself.  As a veteran of traveling to DC I managed to make it to the tourney 5 minutes before it started.  SCG has now increased the tournament cost from $30 to $40 which I grumbled about as they only take cash.  I sit down for my first round and my opponent is playing U/W delver.  I had previously played against it at FNM and quickly swept him and my next round opponent also playing U/W delver.  My third round opponent was playing Naya pod.  It was a close game coming down to game 3.  It came down to me not drawing a creature for 4 turns and him casting Elesh Norn instead of podding him into play.  He was able to beat me both games with an Elesh Norn.  That guy just hammers Zombies.  My 4th round opponent was playing a G/W aggro deck.  He managed to play Mirran Crusader on turn 3 with Angelic Destiny attaching to him turn 4.  I was a turn later only to miss play killing off my Geralf's Messenger to Aristocrat the turn before.  Had I done that I could have copied Messenger with Phyrexian Metamorph sacked to Aristocrat again for the exact damage needing to kill him.  I crushed him game 2 then fizzled out game 3 to a 2-2 record.  I decided to drop and play in a $10 m13 draft.  I drafted B/R with what I thought was a decent deck.  My opponent funny enough drafted the same colors.  I was able to take game one after his mull to 5.  Game 2 I got to see doubled Krenko which were quickly dispatched with double Essence Drain.  Game 3 I had a slow start and he capitalized.  I left for the day to play test my more veteran format: Legacy.

After play testing the night before I set out once again down to DC.  I was playing a deck that I have had the most success with, Ad Nauseam Tendrils 4 color.  2 mistakes I made prior to starting the tournament was not taking out the 2 Ad Nauseam and not having Dread of Night in my sideboard.  I knew I needed them, but forgot them at home.  I started the tournament against a local Games & Stuff player.  He is a nice guy that usually play's fun decks (not the norm, but are good).  Today, he was playing welder.  He got out an early Revoker on Lion's Eye Diamond that proved to be problematic until I Shattering Spree'd it away from my sideboard.  Game 2 he had a turn 1 Chalice for 0. Since I kept a Gambling hand of Chrome Mox and Lotus Petal I quickly fell to welder with Jitte.  Game 3 I had lands and the Chalice for 0 was not as effective.  I had planned to Shattering Spree it away with my next turn.  He was able to draw 3 cards on his turn to find a Revoker.  I was fortunate enough to rip a rite of flame off the top to get the extra red I needed to destroy both the Chalice and Revoker.  I pulled out the win.  Round 2 I was matched against Team America by a good Asian player.  He started with swamp, Thoughtsieze, turn 2 wasteland.  Thinking he was mono black I was able to combo with just the cards in my hand for the exact 18 life.  I knew he was good when he let the storm go on the stack and resolve before Forcing the original Tendrils of Agony.  I was at 36 and he was at 1.  He dropped 2 fetchlands which did not help him.  I was able to build back up to Burning wish for the Tendrils in my sideboard.  Game 2 I was able to start to go off with an Orim's Chant.  He flashed in Vendillion Clique to stop my plans forcing me to pitch my only burning wish.  I was lucky enough to draw one off the clique.  I wished for Infernal Tutor, then grabbed Ad Nauseam out of my deck.  He wanted me to show him the bottom of my deck to prove the burning wish actually went there from his Clique.  I beat him 2-0.  Round 3 I played against G/W Maverick.  Now, in the past G/W has never been an issue even with Gaddock Teeg and Ethersworn Canonist, but with the intro of Thalia it proved to be different.  I was able to squeak out game one to him over extending into a pyroclasm killing Thalia.  I went off the turn after.  Games 2 and three were met with a turn 2 protected by MOM Thalia.  This is where the Dread of Night's were needed.  I have gladly mulled down to 2 cards Land & Dread.  I was defeated.  Round 4 I played against another local Seth.  Seth is a really nice guy.  He was playing his usual Painter Servant.  We had a friendly match and I took it down 2-0.  Round 5 I had to play against another G/W Maverick where I took my 2nd loss and dropped from the tournament.  I once again played in an m13 draft.  This time I drafted a good G/R deck.  My opponent also drafted a G/R deck.  He was able to beat me with mountain walk game one when I had board control.  I lost in game 3 and left for home.  All in all it was a blast.