*Fake* TNM Battle Report

After peaking out at 1745 after the SCG $5K, I slipped a little bit to 1733, by going 2-2 and 1-3 at some events. But thanks to the Zendikar Release events and other events I'm back up to 1766. Hopefully GP: Minneapolis won't hurt me too bad.

I had class last night but got out early at 8:30, so I headed over to the Source to maybe swing some trades but I had to run home first to grab my cards. When I got there, man did it feel good to be in a room where people were playing some competitive Magic again. It was also good to see some old faces as well.

When I first got in there I saw Peter, who was looking at some cards, then I saw Hanie, but as usual, I couldn't understand what he was saying. They both dropped and were about to leave. Peter also told me that Vern was there earlier and traded one of his Bloodghasts for a Jitte! What a killer trade! I'm glad that so many people are looking for Vampires, because I'm not, and am more than willing to trade my vampires away. Peter also said that Phi was there earlier too.

I went to the back and saw that Sou was doing well at the second table. He was playing Jund with Vampire Nighthawk in it. I also saw his girlfriend's younger brother, Vandy. He was playing Naya Zoo, all I gotta say is that Wild Nacatl can deliver a vicious beat down. Plus it's got great removal with Bolt, Path, & Celestial Purge.

I've been tweaking my Jund deck around and I think I might have found a nice build that's still agro but can also beat the mirror match. It's just a regular Jund deck with Vampire Nighthawk, Hellspark Elemental, and Sign in Blood.

With no Bitterblossom, Fae, or Spectral Procession, the skies are open for Vampire Nighthawk (aka Batman) to control.

See the similarities!?!

Getting hit by a Blightning with a Hellspark in hand isn't as painful as it used to be. If I know that my opponent is playing with Blightnings, I hold on to my Hellsparks until I get hit by a Blightning. Hellsparks are great because they're like playing with 4 more Lightning Bolts.

Sign in Blood has been great because so many decks play with so much removal that sometimes you run out of creatures, plus you could always make your opponent lose 2 life as well. The other great thing about Sign in Blood is that it helps you recoup from getting hit by Blightnings.

I've been wanting to play with Sedraxis Specter because it flies, is great Blightning fodder (like Hellspark), and is hand disruption, but I hate having to splash for U. It's hard enough to splash for U, while trying to hit BG for your Putrid Leech on turn two then wanting to hit R on your third turn for your Sprouting Thrinax. The better your deck curves out, the better your chances.

I've been wanting to play with Hypnotic Specter as well because people aren't playing with fliers, but I think Vampire Nighthawk is the better choice here because of the life gain. The life gain only makes it harder for agro decks to beat you, plus it gives you more liberty to pump your Leech and draw cards with Sign in Blood.

This Friday night at Outpost they're having a Tournament of Champions (ToC) qualifier, the top two spots get to play in the ToC on Saturday, where there are only 32 spots. These 32 spots all get playmats and battle for 4 boxes of Zendikar. I hope to qualify, if I don't, then I'll probably head over to the Source for their Zendikar Game Day. Peace!