10/27/14 Getting savagely smashed, KTK draft 1-2

I went to Versus Games for the 7 pm KTK draft.

P1P1:  Polluted Delta over Chief of the Edge
P1P2:  Sandsteppe Citadel over Nomad Outpost and crap.
P1P3:  Kin-Tree Invocation over Opulent Palace.   

I just end up taking mana fixing, thinking I'll go five color.

Black cards dry up in this pack.  I start moving into blue/green.

P2P1:  Howl of the Horde was the rare. I don't remember what I took.
P2P3:  Savage Knuckleblade.  Now I badly need red mana fixing.
P3P1:  Ugin's Nexus was the rare.  I think I slammed a Rugged Highlands.

Final deck:
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2014-10-27-ktk-draft-deck/

I didn't quite get enough mana fixing to make Temur great.  Also I was missing Snowhorn Riders (but I would also needed the Swiftwater Cliffs or Thornwood Falls to make that work).

Mistake:  I passed a third Mystic of the Hidden Way for a Mistfire Weaver. 

Also I think this deck needed a Barrage of Boulders (I passed one).  

Match 1:   4 color stuff

Game 1:

Lose to Kheru Lich Lord and flyers.

Game 2:

Lose to Rakshasa Vizier, Rakshasa Deathdealer, and Dead Drop.

Match 2:  4 color stuff

Game 1:

I board into Temur Ascendancy for this game. 

Opponent plays a Sorin, and gains 11 life from it, but I still manage to win, after killing Sorin. 

I win off a hasty Tusked Colossodon from Temur Ascendancy (and a draw a card for value). 

Game 2:

I end up with a durdly draw, and he's got some removal spells.

He plays Abomination of Gudul and Sultai Scavenger and I have no answers.

Game 3:

Barely beat the opponent, thanks to EoT Temur Charm on Archer's Parapet, swing for lethal.

Opponent 

Game 3:

Match 3:   5 color stuff

Game 1:

Keep a 3 lander on the play, died to Alabaster Kirin and Shambling Attendants.

Game 2:

Opponent played High Sentinels of Arashin, I manage to kill it with Savage Knuckleblade into Savage Punch, but didn't have red mana to haste Savage Knuckleblade to attack that turn.  

Game gets super grindy with my opponent playing Shambling Attendants into Rotting Mastodon into Longshot Squad and Incremental Growth, then a Woolly Loxodon.  I bounce his Longshot Squad end of turn, topdeck Temur Charm, play it, and he concedes.

Game 3:

Ended up losing to Longshot Squad + Ainok Bond-kin into double Woolly Loxodon.   Ainok Bond-kin and Longshot Squad basically shut down all my offense.

Result:  1-2

I had Temur Ascendancy in the deck for one game, but took it out for Weave Fate aftterwards.  I felt like I wasn't playing enough 4+ power guys to trigger it, like Snowhorn Rider or Woolly Loxodon.   Maybe I have played both of the Whirlwind Adepts, just to trigger Temur Ascendancy.

10/26/14 Losing my dice (KTK draft 1-1 drop, Standard Jeskai aggro 2-1)

I went to Versus Games to draft today.  I signed up for a 1 pm and 4 pm draft.

P1P1:  Trail of Mystery

P2P1:  Duneblast

P3P1:  Pearl Lake Ancient over Abzan Charm.

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2014-10-26-ktk-draft-deck/

Unfortunately, someone was forcing 5 color, so I couldn't force 5 color Trail of Mystery morphs. 

Match 1:  Abzan mirror (1-0 went to time)

Game 1:

Duneblast 3 for 1, followed by Trail of Mystery making my morphs from chumps into champs, won me this game.

Game 2:

This game went to time.  My opponent had removal for all my relevant creatures, so I had to try and grind him down with Archer's Parapet.  Unfortunately, he was left at 2 life, on turn 5.

Match 2:  Mardu (0-2)

Game 1:

He killed me with the Kheru Bloodsucker + War-Name Aspirant + double Ainok Bond-Kin + Act of Treason + Rush of Battle combo.

Game 2:

I boarded into Death Frenzy for his deck.  I managed to kill 3 goblin tokens, a Ponyback Rider, and a morphed Ponyback Rider.  However, I still lost when he topdecked creatures, and I didn't draw any of my creatures.  Of course, he also "had" Arrow Storm and Arc Lightning.  Still had all deez..

 It was 3:36 at this point.  I knew I was not going to be able to make my 4 pm draft at this point.  So I dropped out of the 1 pm draft (which I was playing in) and the 4 pm draft as well.  I headed over to Anime Imports to play in the 4 pm constructed event.

I played Ben Stark's Jeskai aggro list.

Match 1:  Abzan aggro (0-2)

Game 1:

I had my opponent down to 1 life, and he topdecked Sorin to gain 14 life.  Even though I killed Sorin after that, I couldn't win after that, since he had a monstrous Fleecemane Lion.

Game 2:

I tried to play the "control route" but lost to Rakshasa Deathdealer because I didn't board into Banishing Light.

I get kinda tilty after this, and leave the table.  Apparently I lost my Chessex Borealis Aquerple dice during this time.  

Match 2:   Abzan midrange (2-1)

Game 1:

I mull to 4, promptly lose to double Siege Rhino.

Game 2:

I manage to win off Mantis Rider + topdeck land for double Lightning Strike.

Game 3:

This game got super grindy, between all my control spells and my opponent's removal spells.  Eventually I topdecked a Stoke the Flames for the win.

I kinda punt when my opponent plays Siege Rhino.  I have Disdainful Stroke and Nullify in hand.  I thought to save the Nullify for a Courser of Kruphix.  I counter the Rhino with Disdainful Stroke, then she plays Elspeth the next turn then +1.  EoT I use Stoke the Flames, and hope to topdeck a Mantis Rider or burn spell, which I topdeck a Mantis Rider, and kill Elspeth.   She then kills my Mantis Rider next turn, and I'm taking 3 per turn from soldier tokens for a bit.

Also, when I cast Dig Through Time, I have a choice between Brimaz, Banishing Light, and Negate.  I should have just put the Brimaz at the bottom, since there wasn't a chance I was winning through creature aggro through all the removal spells.   The Negate would have helped me protect a creature or counter another planeswalker.

Match 3:  Boros Blitz (2-0)

Game 1:

My opponent dealt 11 damage to me in one turn with Monastery Swiftspear and double Titan's Strength.  Unfortunately, I then Magma Jet'ed his only creature, and he couldn't draw another one.

Game 2:

I mull to 4, but keep a land with Seeker of the Way, two lands, and Anger of the Gods.   My opponent goes Swiftspear x 2, and takes me down to 14.  When I play Anger of the Gods, he doesn't have a way to pump his dudes, so they die.   I then play Rabblemaster next turn, and Seeker of the Way the following turn.  He plays Soldier of the Pantheon into Dragon Mantle, and I Magma Spray his Soldier in response.  He can't save his guy so I get the two for one.    Next turn when I attack all out, he Deflecting Palm's my Rabblemaster so I go from 12 to 7 life.  But then he concedes after his next draw step.

10/24/14 Rainbow bright FNM KTK draft 2-1

45 people showed up to draft at Gamescape North

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2014-10-24-rainbow-draft-deck/

Result 2-1

10/18/14 Jeskai Skies (Game Day 3-1)

I went to Gamescape North today.  25 people showed up (which is the most I've ever seen at at a Game Day).  They decided to do only 4 rounds, no cut to single elimination rounds at all.  So only the two people who went 4-0 would be getting the playmat.

Decklist:
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/jeskai-windowscleaner/

Match 1:  Mardu midrange (2-0)

Game 1:

Opponent missed a Goblin Rabblemaster trigges.  I could assume he was just playing the Goblin Rabblemaster post combat, since he didn't say anything.  This turned out to be relevant, because I ended the game at 1 life.

I burned him out on the back of triple Jeskai Charm.

Game 2:

My opponent missed a Goblin Rabblemaster trigger again.  We have dueling Ashcloud Phoenixes, and I have a Sarkhan.  Sarkhan ends up closing out the game for me.

Match 2:  G/b Devotion (2-0)

Game 1:

My opponent plays a Doomwake Giant, but I'm able to race with Mantis Rider + Jeskai Charm.

Game 2:

Suspension Field + Disdainful Stroke does work here.

Match 3:  G/R Devotion (1-2)

Game 1:

I kinda punt this game, when my opponent plays Xenagos and has a Courser in play.  I play Stoke the Flames to kill Xenagos, then attack my opponent with Mantis Rider.  I should have used Stoke the Flames on the Courser, and kill Xenagos by attacking with Mantis Rider.  I forgot Xenagos only has 3 loyalty when he comes into play.

Game 2:

My opponent draws four Coursers this game.  I kill one with Stoke the Flames, but I can't race him gaining 3 life per turn.  

Game 3:

I mull to 4, my opponent plays a turn 4 Polukranos, turn 5 Arbor Colossus.  I draw Suspension Field for the Arbor Colossus, but he plays Reclamation Sage next turn. 

Match 4:  Sultai Control (2-0)

Game 1:

My opponent plays a Raksasha Deathdealer, which I nuke down with Magma Jet.

My opponent tries to race me with Sidisi, but I race him down with Sarkhan and Jeskai Charms.  

Game 2:

Opponent played a couple Rakshasa Deathdealers.  Of course, I have plenty of burn to get rid of them.  I finish the game with Keranos, God of Storms. 

 Result:  3-1, got six booster packs, and a couple promo Utter End.

I was 5th place out of 25.  1st was Abzan, 2nd was G/r Devotion, 3rd/4th were Abzan.   So I was the highest ranked person playing Jeskai. 

10/13/14 Getting the short stick (KTK 0-1 drop)

I went over to Versus Games for the 4 pm draft.

P1P1:  Bloodstained Mire

P1P2:  Crater's Claws

P2P1:   Master of Pearls

P3P1:  Windswept Heath

Unfortunately the deck ended up as a pile.  I lost my first match to a Temur deck who got Ashcloud Phoenix both games.  So I ended up leaving after round 1, so I could focus on cleaning my apartment. 

10/17/14 Mambo number 5 (KTK FNM draft 2-0-1)

I went to Gamescape North for the FNM draft.  I got there kind of late because I left my wallet at home.  I had to drive home (through traffic) to go and get it, and didn't arrive until 5:45 p.m.   I ended up in a pretty tough pod, with 2 pretty experienced drafters on my right and left.

P1P1:  End Hostilities

I made a mistake taking a 2nd Leaping Master over a 2nd Swiftwater Cliffs.  I ended up not playing Red as a main color, so extra fixing would have been appreciated.

P2P1:  Alabaster Kirin over Anafenza.

I took a Kill Shot over Mystic of the Hidden Way.  I never saw another Mystic of the Hidden Way, but I did see a Kill Shot in pack 3, which I passed for Highspire Mantis.

P3P1:  Kheru Spellthief over Abzan Falconer, Jeskai Charm, and Ainok Bond-kin.  Probably a mistake, since Kheru Spellthief was pretty mediocre.

I drafted four Scaldkin during the draft (not highly mind you) but ended up not playing any of them in my main deck.  

DECK
1 Dragon's Eye Savants
1 Jeskai Windscout
1 Monastery Flock
1 Mistfire Weaver
1 Kheru Spellsnatcher
1 Force Away
1 Singing Bell Strike
1 Treasure Cruise
1 Ainok Bond-Kin
1 Abzan Falconer
1 Watcher of the Roost
2 Alabaster Kirin
1 Feast of Resistance
1 Kill Shot
1 End Hostilities
1 Highspire Mantis
3 Efreet Weaponmaster
1 Ride Down
1 Master the Way
2 Swiftwater Cliffs
2 Tranquil Cove
6 Island
6 Plains
2 Mountain

SIDEBOARD

1 Jeskai Student
1 Salt Road Patrol
4 Scaldkin
1 Glacial Stalker
1 Blinding Spray
2 Leaping Master
1 Bloodfire Mentor
1 Barrage of Boulders
1 Arrow Storm
1 Kin-Tree Warden
1 Longshot Squad
1 Woolly Loxodon

Match 1:  Sultai (2-0)

Game 2:

I made a mistake by letting him tap Embodiment of Spring to sacrifice it the turn after he played it (it still has summoning sickness).  The only reason I noticed this, is because he played a second Embodiment of Spring the next turn, and I told him he couldn't tap and sacrifice it because it still has summoning sickness.

Match 2:  Abzan insane rares (1-1 draw)

Game 1:

I have to cast End Hostilities as a 2 for 2, to kill High Sentinels of Arashin.

I tried to get fancy with playing Kheru Spellthief (face down) then trying to Force Away Anafenza later, and trying to steal Anafenza with the spellthief.  Instead, he has Duneblast to 2 for 1 me.  

I have to use Master the Way to kill Anafenza.   I try to block Hooting Mandrills and Shambling Attendant with morph and Efreet Weaponmaster flip, but he has Become Immense to  blow me out after blocks.  I end up losing to Hooting Mandrills.

Game 2:

I have to cast End Hostilities as a 2 for 3 (I lose 2 of my creatures, and my End Hostilities) to kill his Alabaster Kirin + High Sentinels of Arashin.

I lose my Efreet Weaponmaster to Crackling Doom.  

I made a mistake by playing a morph, then not outlasting my Ainok Bond-kin so it would get flying from my Abzan falconer.  There was no reason for me to leave four mana up with my morph (my morph needed 5 to flip anyways).  Game ends up going to time, so we draw.

He also had Ivorytusk Fortress in his deck.

Match 3:    Abzan good stuff (2-1)

Game 1:

I proceed to draw 12 lands, and lose to Rakshasa Deathdealer pump to 10/10.

Game 2:

I kill Siege Rhino with Master the Way.  Wow this guy's deck is nuts.  Eventually he attacks with Rakshasa Deathdealer and plays Dragonscale Boon (for value).  I Kill Shot it, so it ends up tapped from regen, then I attack for lethal next turn thanks to Efreet Weaponmaster flip. 

Game 3:

I end up winning from Watcher of the Roost, Mistfire Weaver, and Alabaster Kirin flyer aggro.

Kind of annoying, he attacked with Temur Charger and Heir of the Wilds, and said he was casting Defiant Strike to pump his Heir of the Wilds to 3/3.  I said I was going to Kill Shot the Temur Charger to prevent him from drawing the card, but he explained he was doing the Defiant Strike pre-combat (whatever).  It didnd't matter anyways, since I end up winning with flyers.

Result:  2-0-1, 4 packs

10/10/14 I will survive (FNM KTK Draft 2-1)

I went over to Gamescape North to play in the FNM KTK draft.  The turnout was lower than usual (29 people).  

P1P1 Siege Rhino
P1P2 Herald of Anafenza
P1P3 Hardened Scales (speculative pick over Ruthless Ripper, ended up not playing it)
P1P4 Abzan Ascendancy

P2P1 Rattleclaw Mystic ($) over Abzan Battle Priest

P3P1 Abzan Charm over Kheru Spellsnatcher
P3P2 Necropolis Fiend over something else I needed, but man I love Necropolis Fiend

I ended up with a lot of rares in my deck, and seven outlast guys.  My other early game cards were a bit lacking (only one Archer's Parapet, no Debilitating Injury) and few morphs.   I would rate this deck a 6/10. 

Match 1:  Abzan mirror (2-0)

Game 1:

My opponent plays Duneblast both games, but I manage to win the first game, and the second game stalls out because both of us got to over 30 life (I had Abzan Guide, he had Kheru Dreadmaw)

Match 2:  BG (2-0)

Game 1:

I kept a sketchy hand with all 3 colors of mana, but no plays until turn 5.  I almost die to Highland Game + Alpine Grizzly + Savage Punch for my first creature.  But I end up stabilizing and killing him with Necropolis Fiend + Abzan Ascendancy tokens.  

Game 2:

This game goes to time again, but I manage to kill my opponent on turn 5, despite a slow play warning (?) from the judge.

Match 3: Jeskai good stuff (0-2)

Game 1:

I mull to 5, keep a 2 lander.  I play Archer's Parapet, my opponent has Crippling Chill and Singing Bell Strike for it.  I die to Scaldkin + Leaping master, and never draw a 3rd land.

Game 2:

I mull to 6, keep a 5 lander, Ainok Bond-kin.  I draw an Abzan Falconer.  My opponent's first play is Monastery Flock, face up.   He has Bring Low for my Abzan Falconer, and Force Away for my Ainok Bond-kin.   My opponent plays a Scaldkin, a Sage of  the Inward Eye, two Efreet Weaponmasters, and a Singing Bell Strike for my Longshot Squad.  I end up stabilizing at 2 life, but then he plays a Leaping Master and I draw Rattleclaw Mystic, instead of a reach/flying guy.

I felt like I played Game 2 pretty tight, unlike how I usually throw away my last two games of the night.  I think I was just in a good mood.

Result:  2-1

I opened Mardu Ascendancy (eww) and Hooded Hydra (shrug)