Battle Report from FNM (01/16/09) @ Outpost 2000 & Beyond

I played 5CC (5 Color Control) as usual. It’s one of my favorite decks of all time. It’s so versatile! I can swap out 8-10 cards and totally change my deck. I’ll show you all an example of this in a bit. Here’s my deck list:

2 Broodmate Dragon (aka “Double Dragon,” aka “Billy and Jimmy Lee”)
2 Cloudthresher (more beatdown, anti-Spectral Processions and Fae)
4 Mulldrifter
3 Plumeveil (anti-manlands/Mutavault, Elves, & Kithkin, also allows me to play more control and end-of-turn stuff)

4 Broken Ambitions (wanted to play more control and end-of-turn stuff)
2 Cruel Ultimatum
4 Cryptic Command
4 Esper Charm
2 Pyroclasm
2 Terror (to emphasize more control play and end-of-turn stuff)
2 Wrath of God

1 Ajani Vengeant
1 Courier’s Capsule (great card!)
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant (so good! I need more of her!)

26 Lands

Sideboard:
3 Kitchen Finks (for agro and to swap out with my Plumeveil if my opponent isn’t playing agro)
1 Liliana Vess (in matchups where I need to find certain cards, it’s like a 3rd Wrath or 3rd Pyroclasm or a 3rd Terror)
4 Jund Charm (anti-Reveillark & weenies)
4 Negate (anti-control)
3 Resounding Thunder (anti-Planeswalkers)

Like how I mentioned earlier, with 5CC I can easily make the following modifications:

-2 Cruel Ultimatum, -2 Terror, -3 Plumeveil
+3 Tidings, +4 Resounding Thunder

Simple stuff that’s lots of fun!!! Your goal is to control the game then cycle Resounding Thunder for the win because your opponent can’t counter it. 

Battle Report!

Match 1 vs. Steven’s Red Elemental Deck (Nova Chaser, Flamekin Harbinger, Incandescent Soulstoke, Smokebraider, Soul’s Fire, etc.)

Game 1: He crushed me. He dropped a Nova Chaser via the Soulstoke, smashed me with it, and then he Soul’s Fired me.

-4 Esper Charm, -1 Ajani Vengeant
+4 Jund Charm, +1 Liliana Vess

Game 2 & 3: I was able to control the game with the 4 additional Jund Charms. He would drop a Harbinger and Soulstoke, then I would sweep the board. There was no way I was going to allow him keep that Soulstoke on the board.

1-0

Match 2 vs. Rueben’s 5-Color Elemental Reveillark Deck (Reveillark, Flamekin Harbinger, Horde of Notion, Mulldrifter, etc.)

Game 1: EPIC BATTLE! It lasted over 20 minutes! It was a tug of war of tempo! I was able to draw him into a playing into my traps. He played a Reveilark, which I Cryptic Commanded, then he Negated, then I Broken Ambition’ed him, leaving him tapped out. The next turn I Wrath of God sweeping the board leaving myself with plenty of mana to counter any new threats. He didn’t play anything so I took the gamble of flashing in a Coudthresher. He had no response so it resolved as the only creature on the board, giving me the win.

-4 Esper Charm, -1 Ajani Vengeant
+4 Jund Charm, +1 Liliana Vess

Game 2: Another long game, where he was able to drop Reveilark a couple of times. Eventually he beat me down with some weenies.

Game 3: With only 8 minutes left we tried to finish up the match. It was another tug-of-war of tempo and control. Eventually I was able to sweep the board again and flash in a Cloudthesher. He was at 11 life and I just needed to swing in two more times. But alas, time was called… I got the draw.

One thing I don’t like about Outpost is that the guy running the event just calls time and doesn’t give you extra turns to finish the match. Also, when a lot of people show up he plays 5 40 minute rounds. 40 minutes is not enough time! Plus, you only need to play 4 rounds! 5 rounds is a lot of Magic, this isn’t a PTQ, it’s FNM, stick w/ 4 rounds! Plus when I dropped the Cloudthesher, he started to slow play. I should of called a slow play infraction on him. Oh well, but next time, when in doubt, call a judge.

1-0-1

Match 3 vs. Brandon’s U/G Weenie Deck (Slippery Bolge, Wistful Selkie, Groundling Pouncher, Shorecrasher Mimic, Murkfeid Liege, Favor of the Overbeing, etc.)

This guy was super annoying. I must of finished shuffling and sat there for like 3 minutes as he mindlessly kept on shuffling talking about how his deck is anti-control and is so good.

Game 1: I lost to a bunch of weenies and was never ever to regain any tempo. This battle made me realize that I should of put two additional Wraths in my sideboard. Bad deck building error on my part. I know that the Metagame at Outpost is creature heavy. *shake my head in shame*

Game 2: I dropped an Elspeth on turn 4 and with a single 1/1 token I won the game. He was never able to regain tempo against a 4/4 flying Soldier token.

Game 3: He dropped a bunch of weenies and was never able to regain tempo. I tried to Jund Charm on turn 4 but he had a Negate for it. Alas, my poor deck building had come back to bite me. I wish I put those 2 Wraths in my sideboard.

1-1-1

Match 4 vs. Jon’s U/G Weenie Deck (identical to the previous deck)

Game 1: I was able to control the board because I was able to draw both my Terrors and mass removal. I played a Broodmate Dragon (aka “Double Dragon”) and won.

Game 2: He got mana screwed but was able to beat me down to 9 life with a Bogart with 3 Favor of the Overbeing on it. It was kind of ridiculous but it was winning the game for him the game. Then I resolved a Cruel Ultimatum and with him at only 3 lands, he just scooped.

2-1-1

Match 5 vs. Nathan’s G Treefolk Deck (Treefolk Harbinger, Bosk Banneret, Dauntless Dourback, Leaf-Crowned Elder, Timber Protector, Chameleon Colossus, etc.)

Alas Treefolk… man do I wish I had those 2 Wrath of God… *shake my head* He had some really good draws as well.

Game 1: Turn 1 Treefolk Harbinger. Turn 2 Treefolk Harbinger. Eventually he dropped a Chameleon Colossus, making my Terror useless. He dropped a creature almost every turn. I never got a Wrath and was never able to regain tempo.

Game 2: Turn 1 Llanowar Elf. Turn 2 Treefolk Harbinger. Again he dropped more creatures on almost every turn, sometimes two because of Leaf-Crowned Elder. He eventually dropped a Timber Protecter. I Wrath of God getting rid of the elf and the Timber Protector but he still had a bunch of creatures out in play. He hit me for 14 the next round and lost.

2-2-1

Overall, it was a disappointing night because I really wanted to win the box. I don’t think I will go back for another box tournament. Granted 1st wins a box & 2nd - 4th split a box. EVERYONE ELSE GETS NOTHING!!! THAT’S RIGHT!!! NOTHING!!! Even if you’re 4-1 and get 5th place, YOU GET NOTHING! NOTHING TO SHOW FOR A 4-1!!! THAT’S REDICULOUS!!! And guess what… that happened to Peter! He went 4-1 and got 5th place out of like 28 people! *shake my head again* It’s just not worth it, to pay $15, then go 4-1 and not get in the top 4, just not worth it.

Next time I’m going to correct the store owner about calling time. With only 40 minutes to play Magic, you have to give people the option of 5 turns before the game is over. I think it’s standard DCI floor rules. Plus, we don’t need 5 rounds, 4 is plenty for FNM. Let the computer figure out the standings from there.

Plus, next time if my opponent is slow playing, I’m going to call a judge.

And next time I build a deck, I have to consider the Metagame for that location. I totally wished that I played with two more Wraths in my sideboard.

I believe that if I had those 2 extra Wraths, would of called a slow play infraction, and ask for the “5 Turn after Time is Called” rule, I would of went at least 4-1. Oh well, you learn and move on.

I just found out that Louis Scott Vargas just won GP LA!!! That guy is crazy right now. He’s playing the best magic I’ve seen in a long time!

I love Mondays, because it's when everyone releases their FNM reports! That's how we're going to become better MTG players, we have to share the knowledge.