The SCG Open returned to Baltimore this past weekend. With 5 open series points from my Super IQ 2nd, 2 for playing in the last Invitational and 1 each from opens in Somerset(2), Baltimore(2) and Minneapolis, I came into the weekend on 12, needing just 3 to qualify for another Invitational. A top 64 either day would do it for me. With both my recent success piloting Omni-Tell in Legacy and the fact that Legacy opens draw significantly fewer participants than Standard Opens, I thought my best chance would be Sunday. So I decided to play Bant Aggro Saturday. I haven't really had any success with the deck, which is similar to the BUG Aggro Nick and I played earlier this summer (except it trades Dreg Mangler and black removal for Voice of Resurgence, Geist of Saint Traft and Selesnya Charm), but is super fun, even when losing, and the decrease in popularity of Pillar of Flame is really good for me.
Standard Open - Saturday - 545 players - 10 rounds
Round 1 vs B/G The Rock
Having played Standard only twice in the last month I hadn't seen this deck in person yet. Game one I flooded out and was never really in it. I decided to go as aggro as possible for game two and left in Rapid Hybridizations I normally board out against decks with lots of removal. I'm rewarded with a turn 4 kill. In game 3 I mulligan but start with Experiment One and Strangleroot Geist. Unfortunately my opponent has turn four Mutilate then goes Thragtusk, Thragtusk, Thragtusk the next three turns.
0-1
Round 2 vs G/R Kibler
I win game one with a nut draw and decide not to board in the Blind Obedience's that were a last minute sideboard addition specifically for this matchup. He starts game two with Elvish Mystic and I play Young Wolf. He then plays Domri and ticks up to 4 loyalty netting a Hellrider. But my turn two is Rancor, Rancor, kill Domri. Turn three he drops the Hellrider and the race is on. I beat for 5 with my Young Wolf and drop a Voice of Resurgence. Life totals are 14-13 in my favor, with each of us having played an untapped shock land. Turn four Thundermaw is his play and I chump the Hellrider, leaving me at 7. On my turn I swing back with my 5/1, hold back my Elemental and drop another wolf. (7-8, him). When he plays another Hellrider I bounce his dragon with Simic Charm... at this point I'm tapped out and dead on board - all he has to do is attack with all three of his creatures (Hellrider x2 and elf) since I only have two blockers and go to 1 off the Hellrider triggers. I know my only chance to win this game is if he holds back a creature so I grab my pen, hold it over my notepad and make eye contact with him, suggesting to him that he doesn't have me dead and trying to get him to hurry through this decision. It actually pays off when he only swings with the two Hellriders, putting me to 3 on triggers and I block both. When I swing back with my wolves (5/1 trample and 2/2) he chumps the 2/2 but I have Selesnya Charm to deal exactly 8 and put him at exactly 0.
1-1
Round 3 vs U/W Flash
OMG this match ends up being frustrating! Every single turn he asks, "Untap?" and waits for me to say yes. Then "Upkeep?".... Then "Draw?"... FUUUUCK! So I spend 10 seconds every turn nodding my head. I've played against dudes who announce each step... no big deal. I've played against guys who check during their upkeep; fine... but this kid is driving me nuts. Anyway, game one I turn my Young Wolf into a 2/2 wolf and a 3/3 frog lizard in response to an Azorius Charm, netting me some damage before his Supreme Verdict. A couple turns later I hybridize his Restoration after it blocks a trampler to take game one... super important in this matchup, especially with how slow this kid is playing. Game two then takes over a half hour as I'm able to counter a couple Sphinx's Revelations while Terminus, Verdict and Detention Spheres are enough to keep him alive. Eventually he drops an Aetherling and I scoop with 9 minutes left in the round. Oh yeah -- not only is this kid playing the slowest deck in the format, AND playing slow as shit, he also shuffles slower than anyone I've ever played against... Multiple pile shuffles, plus multiple mulligans during the match.. I'm about to snap. A judge joins us for game three which starts with less than 6 minutes remaining in the round. I had brought back in the Rapid Hybridizations hoping to just get him dead before timing out. I'm playing as fast as possible and making strategically poor plays (if time wasn't a factor) in hopes of just getting there. With seconds remaining:
Dork: "Untap?"
Me: "YEAH!"
Dork: "Upkeep?"
Me: "YES! GO!"
Dork: "Draw?"
Me: "I DON'T HAVE ANY CARDS IN HAND AND I'M TAPPED OUT!!"
Table Judge: "Ok, now."
Me: "Sorry, but he's been doing this all match and it's why we're not going to finish"
Head Judge: "Standard players that is time in the round..."
1-1-1
I want to drop after this round but decide to stick it out.
Round 4 vs W/G Tokens
Not a real deck.. I win easily... There is a turn where I have two 2/2 Experiment Ones and a Voice of Resurgence attacking and grab a nearby judge that I happen to know personally saying, "Um.. this turn is going to get pretty confusing - can you just watch?" and show him the Rapid Hybridization in my hand. The opponent ends up not blocking so I just Giant Growth with Simic Charm for the win. I go through the Rapid Hybridization play with the Jeremy (the judge) afterward just to confirm the line that gets my Experiment Ones to 4/4.
2-1-1
Round 5 vs B/G The Rock
After round one I discussed this matchup with Jimmy, pretty certain that it's not nearly as bad as it turned out for me, and this round proved just that. I beat down with undying dudes until he plays Desecration Demon and admits that it's awkward. I sac a Strangleroot Geist to tap down the demon and swing for an extra point of damage. He then Mutilates to kill only my 3/2 leaving me with a 2/2 wolf and two 3/3 elementals. I exile the demon with Selesnya Charm and swing for the kill. Game two he mulligans to 5 and never plays a second land.
3-1-1
Round 6 vs B/G The Rock
I do lose a game this round when she's able to mutilate my team and we both draw-go for four turns with zero non-land permanents in play - but she finds a Thragtusk before I can find anything. A timely Loxodon Smiter for Liliana lets me take game 3 with some Rancors. Other than that, my undying guys match up well vs her cards.
4-1-1
Round 7 vs U/W Flash
This round is a heartbreaker as I'm ultimately eliminated from top 8 contention. I lose game one to three straight turns of attacking into Restoration Angel. Game two his only permanent is Archangel of Thune and I beat him decisively. Game three is our best game and after countering a Sphinx's Revelation we're in a spot where we're racing. He has a Restoration Angel and I have a Zameck Guildmage and tons of mana. I'm able to play a some small guys and eat counters off of them to try to draw something that will impact the race more than the +1/+1 but can't find a Rancor or charm. Ultimately he wins the race with the help of Jace, Architect of Thought +1's.
4-2-1
I want to drop but Jimmy gives me a pep talk which combined with our buddy John being 7-0 and possibly having to crash at my place that night (top 4 plays Sunday morning and he lives in WV), convinces me to stay in.
Round 8 vs B/W Tokens
I'm pretty sure this is full-on tokens... the only cards I see are Tragic Slip, Doomed Traveler, Cartel Aristocrat, Lingering Souls and Intangible Virtue. He's able to take game two with double Lingering Souls and Intangible Virtue, but the first and third games aren't even close
5-2-1
Round 9 vs U/W/R Flash
Game one is an odd draw in which I only showed him cards that are in Bant Hexproof and am able to win with Geist of Saint Trafts and Rancors. I decide to try out the Blind Obedience's since it nerfs Restoration Angel and Snapcaster and it seems like the extort could be important in this grindy matchup. I do surprise him with it and it does nerf his Thundermaw Hellkite (buying me a turn) and the few points of life also end up buying me a turn but I'm not really in the game. The white enchantments come out game 3 for something more proactive. I'm able to bounce a Restoration Angel after it blocks a trampler for the win.
6-2-1
Round 10 vs Jund
I had avoided this matchup all day and was pretty disappointed after losing game one handily to Huntmaster into Thragtusk. Jimmy is watching me though and I'm able to quickly go off tilt and am determined to win. I keep a 7-card, 1-land (Temple Garden) hand on the play that has Young Wolf, Rancor and two Voice of Resurgence (and Geist of Saint Traft and Garruk Relentless). The hand is all hard to kill threats and I can't afford to go to 6 and keep hand with half the threats. I'm rewarded with a Hinterland Harbor off the top and completely ignore Liliana in combat (pitching Garruk, Geist and a land, in order as he +1's toward her ultimate) while also drawing a third Voice. Fuck Yeah! Game three he mulligans to 5 and while he does live long enough to cast Thragtusk, I'm able to take the game with a Selesnya Charm to trample through for exact damage.
7-2-1
Those with 22 points stretched from 21st place down to 37th... I was 37th. $50 and 2 open points, but most importantly - qualifying me for the next invitational (assuming I at least show up Sunday).
And I do show up Sunday, going 0-2 drop :-p
I'm fine with it though since I lost a really good match round one and to my worst matchup round 2. Plus I was exhausted from the day before (and the day before the day before when I woke up at 4am to buy a FTV:20 at retail then played Seasons 'til nearly 2am).
So I'll be joining Nick and Jimmy in Indy in a couple months :)
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