Episode 20 - Priceless Treasures or Deadly Traps?

Hi guys,

Thanks for being patient for the few weeks while work/college/zendikar has taken over our lives and we had to miss a few episodes. Carl and Calum are back this week with a discussion about Zendikar, the prerelease, the new standard format and the rising price of Magic.

Thanks for listening, as always email us at thegamerspodcast@googlemail.com if you want us to answer any questions or talk about anything in particular (a certain deck or strategy for example).

Thanks!

The Gamer's Podcast Team

Cube Invitational Popular Vote Results

Congratulations to Carl for winning the 2009 Cube Popular Vote. Here are the full results.

First Round

Rob beat Paul 8-2
Cyrus beat Aaron 7-3
Mark beat William 10-1
Ian beat Tim 7-3
David beat Greg 7-3

Calum, Carl and Chris got a bye.

Quarter Finals

Rob beat Chris 7-3
Calum beat Cyrus 7-3
Ian beat Mark on a tiebreaker at 5-5
Carl beat David 9-1

Semi Finals

Calum beat Rob 10-0
Carl beat Ian 6-4

Final

Carl beat Calum on a tiebreaker at 5-5

(Tiebreaker was previous cube champion Greg Squire's vote)

So congratulations to the winner below and thank you to all others who submitted. Hope you enjoy our card designs.

Carl Ansell - Winner

Calum Stephenson - Second place

Rob Elkin - Semi Finalist

Ian Pirouet - Semi Finalist

Chris Cooper - Quarter Finalist

Cyrus Bales - Quarter Finalist

Mark Lailey - Quarter Finalist

David Lyford-Smith - Quarter Finalist

Paul - First Round

Aaron - First Round

William - First Round

Tim - First Round

Greg - First Round

The winners!

Ian beats Paul 3-1!

Congratulations to Ian Pirouet, winner of the 2009 Cube Invitational! His card, Time Vortex, goes permanently into the Cube. In addition, he wins a personalised trophy, and a guaranteed slot at the 2010 Invitational event!

Furthermore, congratulations to Carl Ansell, whose card Dr Jekyll // Mr Hyde won the popular vote by the narrowest of margins to also go into the Cube.

Thanks for tuning in and look out for the detailed results of the popular vote, along with all the competing card designs, in a post coming up soon.

CUBE INVITATIONAL FINALS- Solomon draft

Hi all! Here's the picks from the finals, Solomon draft. This format works as follows: each player is assigned 45 random cards, from which they make their 1st pick. The remaining 88 cards are then shuffled together. Player A then reveals 4 cards to Player B, who picks one. Player A picks two cards, and the last card goes to Player B. They then swap roles and continue in this way until all the cards have been drafted.

This year's finalists were Paul Nonis, and serial runner-up Ian Pirouet, now in his 3rd consecutive final!

Here're their picks and decks.

*FIRST PICKS*

Ian: Sol Ring

Paul: Umezawa's Jitte

P: Flametongue Kavu

I: All Sun's Dawn & Kokusho, the Evening Star

P: Pulse of the Fields

I: Mind Twist

P: Loxodon Hierarch & Vexing Shusher

I: Plateau

P: Tangle Wire

I: Rakdos Signet & Opportunity

P: Goblin Legionnaire

I: Triskelion

P: Keiga, the Tide Star & Dismantling Blow

I: Serum Visions

P: Sensei's Divining Top

I: Standstill & Faceless Butcher

P: Kjeldoran Outpost

I: Wall of Blossoms

P: Goldmeadow Harrier & Duress

I: Night's Whisper

P: Stomping Ground

I: Swords to Plowshares & Black Knight

P: Sphinx of the Steel Wind

I: Vampiric Tutor

P: Spike Weaver & Gaea's Cradle

I: Sudden Death

P: Harmonize

I: Tranquil Thicket & Platinum Angel

P: Stifle

I: Temple Garden

P: Llanowar Elves & Bosh, Iron Golem

I: Capsize

P: Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker

I: Bone Shredder & Necropotence

P: Exhume

I: Liliana Vess

P: Profane Command & Goblin Warchief

I: Dimir Signet

P: Forgotten Ancient

I: Knollspine Invocation & Memory Lapse

P: Confiscate

I: Priest of Titania

P: Knight of Meadowgrain & Rugged Prairie

I: Seat of the Synod

P: Sacred Foundry

I: Mirri the Cursed & Underground Sea

P: Lonely Sandbar

I: Squee, Goblin Nabob

P: Mogg Fanatic & Mother of Runes

I: Azorius Signet

P: Nekrataal

I: Smother & Gilded Lotus

P: Jushi Apprentice

I: Saproling Burst

P: Silklash Spider & Fire // Ice

I: Oona's Prowler

P: Black Lotus

I: Time Walk & Gorilla Shaman

P: Breath of Life

I: Savannah

P: River Boa & Tooth and Nail

I: Secluded Steppe

P: Goblin Piledriver

I: Boros Garrison & Withered Wretch

P: Ethersworn Canonist

I: Engineered Explosives

P: Gush & Zuran Orb

I: Momentary Blink

Paul's Deck:

Tangle Wire

River Boa

Umezawa's Jitte

Mogg Fanatic

Knight of Meadowgrain

Llanowar Elves

Tooth and Nail

Bosh, Iron Golem

Black Lotus

Harmonize

Loxodon Hierarch

Fire // Ice

Silklash Spider

Sensei's Divining Top

Forgotten Ancient

Goldmeadow Harrier

Mother of Runes

Flametongue Kavu

Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker

Keiga, the Tide Star

Goblin Warchief

Goblin Legionnaire

Vexing Shusher

Goblin Piledriver

Sacred Foundry

Gaea's Cradle

Stomping Ground

Kjeldoran Outpost

Rugged Prairie

4 Forest

3 Plains

4 Mountain

Ian's Deck:

Swords to Plowshares

Mind Twist

Triskelion

Withered Wretch

Black Knight

Saproling Burst

Faceless Butcher

Engineered Explosives

Sudden Death

Sol Ring

Gilded Lotus

Vampiric Tutor

Night's Whisper

Liliana Vess

Rakdos Signet

Dimir Signet

Smother

All Suns' Dawn

Kokusho, the Evening Star

Wall of Blossoms

Mirri the Cursed

Time Walk

Platinum Angel

Bone Shredder

Tranquil Thicket

Savannah

Underground Sea

Temple Garden

6 Forest

7 Swamp

The Cube Invitational - Rotisserie draft decks and records

Hi all!

A quick update whilst I have the time. Below are the decklists that the 12 Invitationalists drafted and played for the final Cube Invitational format, Rotisserie. Each player made 30 picks, and the deck's win/loss record is alongside the name of its user. Remember that most people played 3 rounds, but that some had to play 4 due to some pairings issues on the first day : )

The draft order was:

Rob Elkin

Carl Ansell

Ian Pirouet

Paul Nonis

Cyrus Bales

Chris Cooper

David Lyford-Smith

Aaron Ansell

Calum Stephenson

Mark Lailey

Tim Willoughby

Greg Squire

David Lyford-Smith: 4-0

Mind's Desire

Mana Crypt

Oona, Queen of the Fae

Treachery

Simic Signet

Force of Will

Ancestral Recall

Jace Beleren

Timetwister

Turnabout

High Tide

Braingeyser

Future Sight

Compulsive Research

Time Spiral

Gush

Heartbeat of Spring

Frantic Search

Deep Analysis

Cryptic Command

Wayfarer's Bauble

Early Harvest

Brain Freeze

Palinchron

Windswept Heath

Simic Growth Chamber

Breeding Pool

Lonely Sandbar

11 Island

1 Forest

SB:

Harrow

Repeal

Carl Ansell 3-0

Juggernaut

Elspeth, Knight Errant

Spectral Lynx

Cursed Scroll

Aether Vial

Soltari Monk

Soltari Priest

Knight of Meadowgrain

Exalted Angel

White Knight

Goldmeadow Harrier

Shining Shoal

Sword of Fire and Ice

Samurai of the Pale Curtain

Mother of Runes

Ajani Goldmane

Isamaru, Hound of Konda

Swords to Plowshares

Skullclamp

Ronom Unicorn

Dismantling Blow

Savannah Lions

Stillmoon Cavalier

Umezawa's Jitte

16 Plains

Kjeldoran Outpost

SB

Faith's Fetters

Humility

Ethersworn Canonist

True Believer

Genju of the Fields

Ian Pirouet 1-2

Karn, Silver Golem

Mox Sapphire

Thran Dynamo

Mindslaver

Sundering Titan

Izzet Signet

Staff of Domination

Pentad Prism

Mind Stone

Mana Vault

Prismatic Lens

Darksteel Colossus

Tangle Wire

Vedalken Shackles

Metalworker

Grim Monolith

Goblin Welder

Fire // Ice

Brainstorm

Mystical Tutor

Tinker

Trinket Mage

Mana Drain

Counterspell

Thirst for Knowledge

Tolarian Academy

Academy Ruins

Great Furnace

Volcanic Island

Seat of the Synod

10 Island

Paul Nonis 2-1

Archon of Justice

Armageddon

Prison Term

Solitary Confinement

Balance

Enlightened Tutor

Orim's Chant

Land Tax

Acidic Slime

Cold-Eyed Selkie

Ohran Viper

Viridian Shaman

Regrowth

River Boa

Vexing Shusher

Viridian Zealot

Qasali Pridemage

Crucible of Worlds

Icy Manipulator

Engineered Explosives

Squee, Goblin Nabob

Stone Rain

Ajani Vengeant

5 Plains

6 Forest

1 Mountain

Plateau

Library of Alexandria

Thawing Glaciers

Horizon Canopy

Mox Emerald

SB:

Naturalize

Smash to Smithereens

Chris Cooper 0-3

Nevinyrral's Disk

Tendrils of Agony

Phyrexian Processor

Yawgmoth's Will

Necropotence

Psychatog

Shadowmage Infiltrator

Demonic Tutor

Doom Blade

Night's Whisper

Terror

Dimir Signet

Scroll Rack

Fellwar Stone

Contagion

Lotus Petal

Dark Ritual

Innocent Blood

Mind Twist

Stroke of Genius

Yawgmoth's Bargain

Memory Jar

Liliana Vess

Mox Jet

Barren Moor

Lake of the Dead

Watery Grave

Polluted Delta

Underground Sea

11 Swamp

SB:

Meloku, the Clouded Mirror

Rob Elkin 1-2

Carnophage

Sarcomancy

Elves of Deep Shadow

Birds of Paradise

Sakura-Tribe Elder

Tarmogoyf

Chainer's Edict

Diabolic Edict

Troll Ascetic

Pernicious Deed

Phantom Centaur

Plague Sliver

Snuff Out

Sickening Shoal

Black Lotus

Garruk Wildspeaker

Braids, Cabal Minion

Chameleon Colossus

Harmonize

Creakwood Liege

Masticore

Spiritmonger

Plow Under

Overgrown Tomb

Volrath's Stronghold

Golgari Rot Farm

City of Brass

7 Forest

5 Swamp

SB:

Loxodon Warhammer

Caller of the Claw

Aaron Ansell 0-4

Time Walk

Fact or Fiction

Gifts Ungiven

Djinn of Wishes

Academy Rector

Yosei, the Morning Star

Oona's Prowler

Recurring Nightmare

Kokusho, the Evening Star

Noble Hierarch

Tinder Wall

Fyndhorn Elves

Wild Mongrel

Survival of the Fittest

Great Sable Stag

Tooth and Nail

Bogardan Hellkite

Mirari's Wake

Maelstrom Nexus

Angel of Despair

Hellkite Overlord

Empyrial Archangel

Gilded Lotus

Cascade Bluffs

Mystic Gate

Wooded Bastion

Twilight Mire

Taiga

Tropical Island

Scrubland

2 Island

2 Plains

2 Swamp

3 Forest

1 Mountain

Calum Stephenson 1-2

Goblin King

Taurean Mauler

Goblin Matron

Figure of Destiny

Furystoke Giant

Zo-Zu, the Punisher

Goblin Recruiter

Siege-Gang Commander

Mirror Entity

Goblin Warchief

Goblin Ringleader

Goblin Lackey

Goblin Chieftain

Goblin Piledriver

Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker

Goblin Sharpshooter

Goblin Sledder

Greater Gargadon

Condemn

Path to Exile

Sword of Light and Shadow

Lightning Bolt

Banefire

Sacred Foundry

Rugged Prairie

Chrome Mox

Wooded Foothills

1 Plains

12 Mountain

SB:

Pithing Needle

Lightning Greaves

Disenchant

Greg Squire 3-0

Fireblast

Bitterblossom

Dark Confidant

Magma Jet

Sensei's Divining Top

Flame Javelin

Chain Lightning

Char

Blood Oath

Urza's Rage

Pulse of the Forge

Volcanic Fallout

Pyromancer's Justice

Dealbreaker

Firebolt

Wheel of Fortune

Earthquake

Tombstalker

Grim Lavamancer

Sulfuric Vortex

Rhystic Lightning

Molten Rain

Incinerate

1 Blood Crypt

1 Bloodstained Mire

1 Graven Cairns

1 Badlands

1 Mox Ruby

1 Barbarian Ring

1 Forgotten Cave

6 Swamp

4 Mountain

Mark Lailey 3-1

Selesnya Signet

Sol Ring

Mox Diamond

Mox Pearl

Genesis

Eternal Witness

Wall of Blossoms

Thornweald Archer

Loxodon Hierarch

Kitchen Finks

Akroma's Vengeance

Hallowed Burial

Wrath of God

Cage of Hands

Oblivion Ring

Harm's Way

Baneslayer Angel

Calciderm

Windborn Muse

Eternal Dragon

Maelstrom Pulse

Vindicate

Animate Dead

Shriekmaw

Solemn Simulacrum

Savannah

Flooded Strand

Godless Shrine

2 Swamp

4 Forest

7 Plains

SB:

Reanimate

Watchwolf

Cyrus Bales 0-3

Golgari Signet

Orzhov Signet

Wall of Roots

Life from the Loam

Sudden Death

Profane Command

Sinkhole

Thoughtseize

Damnation

Vampiric Tutor

Duress

Beacon of Unrest

Phyrexian Arena

Mortify

The Abyss

Death Grasp

Hymn to Tourach

Nostalgic Dreams

Putrefy

Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

2 Plains

Stalking Stones

Rishadan Port

2 Forest

Fetid Heath

6 Swamp

Wasteland

Strip Mine

Mishra's Factory

Bayou

Mutavault

Treetop Village

Maze of Ith

Tim Willoughby 2-2

Reveillark

Body Double

Venser, Shaper Savant

Cloud of Faeries

Silver Knight

Man-o'-War

Karmic Guide

Vesuvan Shapeshifter

Triskelion

Mulldrifter

Memory Lapse

Moat

Daze

Mana Leak

Impulse

Azorius Signet

Serum Visions

Sacred Mesa

Remand

Ponder

Capsize

Isochron Scepter

Altar of Dementia

Tundra

6 Plains

10 Island

SB:

Crystal Shard

Opposition

Stifle

Paladin en-Vec

Wall of Nets

The Gamer's Podcast Episode Nineteen - The Cube Invitational!

Hi!

Welcome to episode nineteen, an epsiode recorded after day one of the cube invitational 2009, we're discussing how we did and the format of the cube invitational. Join us tomorrow when the tournament is done and we will bring you the final results!

The Gamer's Podcast Team

Breaking news - PTQs for San Diego

Hi all.

The PTQ schedule for San Diego has been announced. These are Sealed deck events.

17/10/2009 - Dublin
18/10/2009 - Manchester
01/11/2009 - Gravesend
07/11/2009 - Cambridge
14/11/2009 - Birmingham
28/11/2009 - Southampton
05/12/2009 - Dundee
02/01/2010 - London

Episode Eighteen - Zendikar Previews

Hi there guys,

welcome to episode 18 of the gamer's podcast, where Carl and Calum talk about the new zendikar cards on the horizon.

The Gamer's Podcast Team

Finalist, winner, and last decklists

Congratulations to Peter Mottram, winner of PTQ - Coventry!

WINNER

Peter Mottram's “Combo Elves”

2 Noble Hierarch

4 Devoted Druid

4 Nettle Sentinel

4 Heritage Druid

4 Elvish Visionary

4 Elvish Archdruid

4 Regal Force

4 Ranger of Eos

1 Burrenton Forge-Tender

1 Cloudthresher

32 creatures

4 Primal Command

2 Manamorphose

6 spells

3 Mosswort Bridge

13 Forest

4 Sunpetal Grove

2 Plains

22 lands

60 cards

SB:

3 Path to Exile

4 Great Sable Stag

2 Oversoul of Dusk

1 Qasali Pridemage

3 Burrenton Forge-Tender

2 Gaddock Teeg

FINALIST

Charlie Grover's “Merfolks”

3 Stonybrook Banneret

2 Sygg, River Guide

4 Silvergill Adept

4 Wake Thrasher

4 Merrow Reejerey

2 Merfolk Sovereign

3 Sower of Temptation

4 Reveillark

26 creatures

2 Harm's Way

4 Cryptic Command

4 Path to Exile

1 Sage's Dousing

11 spells

9 Island

4 Glacial Fortress

4 Mutavault

4 Wanderwine Hub

2 Mystic Gate

23 lands

60 cards

SB:

2 Baneslayer Angel

3 Burrenton Forge-Tender

2 Harm's Way

3 Guardian Seraph

2 Glen Elendra Archmage

3 Vendilion Clique

Thanks again for tuning in! We'll see you again soon!

Semifinalists + decklists

Daniel Royde

4 Time Sieve

4 Open the Vaults

4 Time Warp

1 Font of Mythos

4 Howling Mine

2 Jace Beleren

2 Tezzeret the Seeker

4 Elsewhere Flask

3 Kaleidostone

4 Pollen Lullaby

4 Cryptic Command

4 Fieldmist Borderpost

4 Mistvein Borderpost

44 spells

3 Plains

7 Island

3 Swamp

3 Mystic Gate

16 lands

SB:

3 Silence

4 Ethersworn Canonist

2 Vedalken Outlander

2 Meddling Mage

2 Pithing Needle

2 Tidehollow Sculler

Peter Dun's “WU Lark”

4 Knight of the White Orchid

3 Plumeveil

4 Mulldrifter

2 Glen Elendra Archmage

3 Wall of Reverence

3 Baneslayer Angel

2 Reveillark

2 Oona, Queen of the Fae

23 creatures

3 Broken Ambitions

2 Negate

4 Cryptic Command

3 Path to Exile

4 Fieldmist Borderpost

16 spells

4 Mystic Gate

3 Glacial Fortress

6 Plains

8 Island

21 lands

60 cards

SB:

4 Vendilion Clique

1 Glen Elendra Archmage

1 Path to Exile

1 Negate

2 Hallowed Burial

2 Austere Command

2 Oblivion Ring

2 Sower of Temptation

Coventry PTQ Quarterfinalists + decklists + BONUS fun deck!

QUARTERFINALISTS

Bogi Hujgaard

2 Maelstrom Pulse

4 Bituminous Blast

3 Volcanic Fallout

4 Lightning Bolt

3 Sign in Blood

16 spells

2 Sygg, River Cutthroat

4 Bloodbraid Elf

4 Kitchen Finks

4 Boggart Ram-Gang

4 Putrid Leech

1 Anathamancer

19 creatures

4 Savage Lands

2 Vivid Crag

1 Vivid Marsh

3 Vivid Grove

4 Reflecting Pool

2 Swamp

1 Fire-Lit Thicket

2 Graven Cairns

3 Twilight Mire

2 Forest

1 Mountain

25 lands

60 cards

SB:

3 Shriekmaw

3 Anathemancer

4 Great Sable Stag

3 Thoughtseize

2 Maelstrom Pulse

Stuart Horden's “White Knights”

3 Ranger of Eos

4 Knight of the White Orchid

1 Mirror Entity

4 Knight of Meadowgrain

2 Elite Vanguard

4 Figure of Destiny

1 Burrenton Forge-Tender

3 Cloudgoat Ranger

1 Baneslayer Angel

23 creatures

3 Spectral Procession

1 Ajani Goldmane

4 Honor of the Pure

3 Path to Exile

3 Harm's Way

14 spells

19 Plains

4 Windbrisk Heights

23 lands

60 cards

SB:

4 Ethersworn Canonist

3 Stillmoon Cavalier

1 Harm's Way

4 Lapse of Certainty

3 Burrenton Forge-Tender

Mick Edwards' Lark

4 Figure of Destiny

4 Shriekmaw

4 Kitchen Finks

1 Sower of Temptation

1 Glen Elendra Archmage

4 Mulldrifter

2 Baneslayer Angel

2 Reveillark

22 creatures

4 Path to Exile

4 Cryptic Command

3 Makeshift Mannequin

1 Hallowed Burial

12 spells

2 Swamp

2 Island

3 Plains

2 Vivid Meadow

1 Vivid Marsh

1 Vivid Creek

4 Reflecting Pool

4 Arcane Sanctum

3 Mystic Gate

2 Fetid Heath

2 Sunken Ruins

26 lands

60 spells

SB:

2 Austere Command

2 Identity Crisis

4 Infest

1 Jace Beleren

2 Sower of Temptation

2 Stillmoon Cavalier

2 Glen Elendra Archmage

Rob Catton's “Merfolk”

4 Stonybrook Banneret

4 Silvergill Adept

3 Sygg, River Guide

4 Meddling Mage

4 Merrow Reejerey

4 Merfolk Sovereign

2 Reveillark

25 creatures

3 Sage's Dousing

4 Path to Exile

4 Cryptic Command

11 spells

4 Mutavault

4 Wanderwine Hub

4 Glacial Fortress

2 Mystic Gate

2 Plains

8 Island

24 lands

60 cards

SB:

4 Burrenton Forge-Tender

2 Sower of Temptation

2 Glen Elendra Archmage

3 Silence

2 Sleep

1 Reveillark

1 Baneslayer Angel

BONUS FUN DECK!!

Francois Hauchard

2 Progenitus

2 creatures

4 Broken Ambitions

4 Bitterblossom

4 Cryptic Command

4 Ponder

3 Peppersmoke

4 Polymorph

4 Thoughtseize

3 Sage's Dousing

2 Agony Warp

3 Jace Beleren

35 spells

4 Island

1 Swamp

4 Mutavault

2 Springjack Pasture

4 Drowned Catacomb

4 Sunken Ruins

4 Secluded Glen

23 lands

60 cards

SB:

2 Sleep

3 Deathmark

3 Snakeform

2 Duress

3 Infest

2 Beckon Apparition

Round 5 feature match!

Richard Bland writes...

Round 5 Feature Match: Daniel Royde vs. Peter Dun

Daniel and Pete suffer the annoyance of having to play a friend in the elimination bracket. Pete is at 4-0-1 and hoping to qualify for Austin after narrowly missing out on making the Nationals team with the UW lark deck he is playing today. Daniel is playing his Time Sieve combo deck and is at 4-1, so a loss would likely eliminate him.

Daniel wins the roll and both players keep their opening hands.

Daniel's leading play of Time Sieve meets with a Broken ambitions, with the unfortunate side-effect of filling up Dan's graveyard with Borderposts. Peter stalls on 4 lands, until Daniel's Font of Mythos helps him find the fifth, but Pete doesn't make a play and discards a Mulldrifter. Daniel lays more artifacts including a howling mine, but his Time Warp is Negated. Pete makes up for lost time with a ramping Knight of the White Orchid, while Daniel lays another Howling Mine and more cantripping artifacts. Pete bounces the Font with Cryptic Command at end of turn, then lays an Oona, with 2 mana up. Dan takes the opportunity to play Time Warp and replay the Font. Drawing 5 cards the next turn, Dan flashes a Cryptic and Open the vaults, and Pete scoops up his cards, remarking “I'm pretty sure you won't mess up from here”. “Do you even know me?” laughs Daniel as they reach for their sideboards.

Daniel 1-0 Peter

Daniel removes his Pollen Lullabies and a few artifacts for some disruption in Tidehollow Scullers, Silences and Pithing Needles. Pete removes a pile of removal spells and Baneslayers for Vendillion Cliques and counterspells.

Pete sends his hand back twice with a sigh, while Daniel is happy with his opening seven. Both players lead with Borderposts, followed by a Pithing Needle on Glen-Elendra Archmage for Daniel. Pete can't find a 3rd land though, and Dan accelerates with another borderpost and a Time Sieve, A Tezzeret from Daniel prompts the scoop, as Pete's deck refuses to give him another land. “My only way to win is for him to not draw land,” Daniel says apologetically. Pete will need a win to make the top 8, and a draw should be good enough for Daniel.

Daniel 2 – 0 Peter

Round 4 feature match from Coventry

Richard Bland writes...

Round 4 Feature Match: Peter Mottram vs. Bogi Hojgaard

Bogi is currently undefeated with his Jund Aggro deck and is generally seen around the top16 on UK nats and has been paired down to Peter, who sits on 6 points with his Elf deck. Peter will be looking to continue his run of good results, having finished 3rd at this year's nationals.

Bogi wins the roll, and keeps his 7, as does Peter. A Putrid Leech from Bogi, while Pete lays a Heritage Druid and an Elvish Visionary. Bogi gets in with the Leech and a 'gang ram' the next turn, sending Pete to 13. Peter, undaunted, lays a pair of Elvish archdruids, putting his team out of Volcanic Fallout range. Bogi replies with another Ramgang and serves with the team, trading one with an Archdruid.

Bogi passes, declaring that Pete will probably go off. Peter obliges and plays a Ranger of Eos, fetching a pair of Nettle Sentinels, but can 'only' drop 3(!) Nettle Sentinels and pass the turn, after swinging for a cheeky 4. Bogi taps his deck and plays Bituminous Blast on the Archdruid, cascading into Maelstrom Pulse on the 3 Sentinels and swings Peter down to just 2 life. Peter draws and quickly passes the turn back, seemingly out of gas. Bogi drops more guys, and Peter is soon in chump-block mode. One more swing and Peter drops his hand of 3 lands in concession.

Bogi 1- 0 Peter

Bogi makes no pretence of his plan to side out his Anathemancers, as Peter's deck played all basics Game 1, while Peter shuffles out a few random elves, and in his Oversouls of Dusk and Burrenton Forge-tenders.

Peter keeps his 7. Bogi is less certain, but keeps also. Nettle Sentinel leads off, and is followed by devoted Druid, which Bogi quickly Lightning Bolts, while laying taplands. Mosswort Bridge shows Peter does in fact play non-basics, and Heritage Druid joins the team, to give Nettle sentinel vigilance. Bogi drops land and passes, and peter adds a Ranger of Eos to his board, finding a spare nettle Sentinel and a Forge-tender. Bogi fallouts at end of turn, before the Forge-tender can blank it, then lays a Kitchen Finks to get back to a respectable 13.

Peter thinks for a moment, then Primal Commands a Vivid back on top of Bogi's deck, and grabs a Ranger of Eos from his own deck. Bogi quickly replays the land and gets in with the Finks. Peter drops the Ranger and again grabs the Sentinel-Tender combo, and adds the Tender to the board. Bogi replies with a Bloodbraid Elf into a Ramgang, and drops Peter to 12 with the team, trading the Goblin for Peter's Ranger. With 6 lands in play, Peter decides to give it a go, and lays down the Sentinels, and plays a second Primal Command on Bogi's Vivid and searching up a Regal Force to reload next turn.

Bogi can only play another Ramgang, and Peter drops an Archdruid followed by Regal force for 5 the next turn, drawing and playing a second Archdruid, before passing. Bogi finally gets to draw a card that isn't his vivid grove – a vivid marsh! Mosswort bridge spits out an Oversoul at end of turn, prompting a shrug from Bogi, who insists his hand has 'good ones' Peter sends in with the team and Bogi shows he wasn't lying, Bituminous Blasting one archdruid, cascading into Pulse, which Bogi casts on the other archdruid, allowing him to block and not die, falling to 4. Bogi goes into the tank on his next turn, and decides to pulse a pair of nettle sentinels. Peter sends in again and Finks and Ramgang do some chumping, leaving a persisted Finks versus 15 power of guys. One more attack levels the match.

Bogi 1- 1 Peter

Bogi declares that he's 'decided to win this game' and keeps his 7, as does Peter. Peter drops down a Nettle sentinel and Devoted druid, while Bogi's first play is a Ramgang. Peter curves out with a Ranger of Eos, fetching Heritage Druid and a second Sentinel. Bogi plays a second Ramgang and serves, trading one with the Ranger, dropping Pete to 1. Peter drops a heritage druid and explodes with mana on his next turn. Bogi bolts a nettle sentinel to try and throttle Peter's development, but Peter still ends the turn with a pair of Archdruids and 4 other Elves in play. Bogi can only play a Finks and pass. Peter plays out a Primal command, grabbing a Ranger, which grabs a Forge-Tender, then plays another Command, prompting the concession from Bogi, who bemoans his elusive Volcanic Fallouts.

Bogi 1-2 Peter

First update from PTQ Coventry

First round starts at 1225, with about 50 players in the event.

-David Lyford-Smith

Awesome EDH story time! The judge staff were playing a 4-player game before the event started. Charlie Hurrell had a Mass Hysteria, an Upwelling, and general Karona on the battlefield. Come my turn, I floated mana until I had 10, then cast Storm Herd. 40 Pegasus tokens, each 2/2 from Crovax, Ascendant Hero. All with haste. All getting +3/+3 from Karona, False God... 200 damage and all other players are out of there! What a classic!

-DLS

Faeries is dead right? Not today, it appears as if at least 10 pilots didn't get the message, including myself I chose to run the normal U/B list rather than the new fangled splash red... and it's going OK, I'm currently 2-0 having top decked my 3rd Scion of Oona to win a damage race with Anathemancers and Stags... of course I only run 3 Scions, what do you mean lucky?! I probably should mention my first match win came off the back of a deck registration game loss for my opponent after he mana flooded in game one, so I could, so easily be 0-2 and drafting, let's see where we go from here.

- James Allingham

That may have been the worst sideboard decision ever. Gaddock Teeg out against Maelstrom Nexus combo, which he essentially stops single handedly. He screwed out game 1, so I didn't see his deck. Thankfully still pulled game 2.

- James Grover

I was amazed to see 75% of the room today had decided to bring on the control. I myself chose to play G/W tokens and it felt that I was vindicated in my decision to put Great Sable Stag in the main. Won first two rounds against fae before losing to Bant Aggro, maybe on another day I would have won that too but at 2-1 I may still make Top 8. Let's see, eh? P.S. Casting silence on turns 4 and 5 is good apparently.

- Ben Heath