Man… U.S. Nationals starts today… I’m quite happy to see that Legion Events is running it; they always run really smooth events. All of the regional pre-releases/release parties, the SCG $5K, States, and Regionals up here are ran by them.
So how do you qualify for Nationals? Either be in the top 4 from Nationals last year, be a Level 2 Pro Club Member or higher, be ranked in the top 100 in either DCI composite or total for the U.S., be in the top 4 for your local Regionals, or get a “special invite,” or win a “Grinder.”
What is a “Grinder?” A grinders is a pool of 32 players, where the winner gets an invite to Nationals the next day. 2nd place gets 18 boosters & 3rd & 4th get 9 boosters each as well. These Grinders are single elimination and I believe they’re holding two types of Grinders: Standard for $15 & Sealed Deck for $25. They’re actually running Grinders all day today. I bet if the whole IL/MN crew went to Nationals, at least 2 or 3 of us could win a Grinder or easily push our DCI score above 1700. Maybe I’ll go next year if it’s in Chicago (the forums are guessing that Nationals will be in Chicago next year :) ).
Even if I didn’t qualify for Nationals, they’re still running Standard, Extended, Sealed, Booster Drafts, 2HG, late-night EDH, Super FNM, PTQs, & Grand Prix Trials all day Friday, Saturday, & Sunday.
I predict that regular 5CC and Fae will do well. I think Kithkin is strong, as well as Elf Ball but they're just gonna cut it against a Pro playing 5CC or Fae. I'm also sad to say that I don't think 5C Blood or G/W tokens will do well this weekend as well (B/W tokens is out of contention as well). I hope I'm wrong but I think either 5CC of Fae will reign.
Here's what I would play if I were going to Nationals:
2 Cloudthresher - Anti-Fae/Spectral Procession/Baneslayer Angel. Just evoke it, GGGG is way too greedy for this deck.
4 Mulldrifter - Just evoke it and retrieve it w/ Makeshift or Soul Manipulation
4 Shreikmaw - Just evoke it and retrieve it w/ Makeshift or Soul Manipulation
2 Baneslayer Angel - Way overpriced but after proxying her & play testing w/ her, you can call me crazy but right now, in the current meta, I think she's better and more fun than Wrath of God. Yeps, you can quote me on that, I like Baneslayer Angel more than Wrath of God, trust me on this. She's a 10 point life swing & takes no damage from Broodmage or Chamelion Colossus (the Changeling). The only thing she doesn't kill is Cloudthresher, that's why I would play with two.
2 Wall of Reverence - to protect you and your planeswalkers from agro decks, plus gaining 7 from Cloudthresher is pure craziness!
2 Cryptic Command - UUU is way too greedy, that's why you play with only 2
1 Cruel Ultimatum - Only 1 because mana is too greedy in this deck, plus Liliana can fetch it for you.
3 Firespout
4 Makeshift Mannequin - Don't hard cast Cloudthresher, just Makeshift it. Also, Makeshifting a Baneslayer to block their Mistbind is so much fun!
3 Soul Manipulation - A two-for-one. You counter their creature and get back a Wall of Revernce
2 Planar Cleansing - No one plays with regeneration so this card is perfect against all of those Honor of the Pures & Ajanis.
2 Jace Beleren - Card draw
2 Liliana Vess - Hand disruption is key as well as fetching that "Silver Bullet" you need
27 lands - Why 27? The mana is pretty greedy in this deck, plus Acidic Slime is killer when it targets your lands.
Early Removal: Shreikmaw, Wall of Revernce, Firespout, Soul Manipulation, Cloudthresher, Makeshift Mannequin.
Win Conditions: Cruel Ultimatum, Baneslayer, Cloudthresher. You have the tools to outplay most of the decks in the current meta.
Can't wait for reports from Nationals!
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