Tarmogoyf and Emrakul

GPT Krakow - Standard Abzan Midrange

This weekend there were several type 2 events - PTQ, PPTQ and GPT Krakow. After several type 2 events I decided against playing in the (P)PTQs and decided to play at a smaller event because I don't like the format much but still wanted to give it a chance and because the PTQ entrance fee was pretty high.

The day before the GPT/PTQ I was trying to figure out how my deck should look like. I noticed few things I wanted to fix. My deck was trying to be more of a control than it can actually be so this midrange deck needed more threats and Elspeth is not one of them (after playing few times against UB control and Abzan/BG Constellation). I decided to try out Abzan aggro for a while to see what it does (few games actually). I wasn't fan of Rakshasa Deathdealer but Fleecemane Lion was pretty cool and Anafenza seemed good as well. The games I lost during the few tournaments were actually against Abzan Aggro so I decided to change my deck a bit. I added 2 End Hostilities (because I really need a board wipe after all...), 2 Bile Blight (because Seeker of the Way and Rabblemaster are pretty annoying) and Fleecemane Lion. I cut Sylvan Caryatids because they are not really good blockers anyway and getting ahead with mana is not that important. Because the only thing I actually want to play earlier is End Hostilities anyway. Elspeth is not something that can save the day earlier in the game...and sometimes it does not even save it late game (sometimes I should read some cards, but my opponent playing Temur Charm and desperately wanting to draw it told me what the card does. So far it usually countered my cards...or killed them. I wasn't aware what the last ability does). Fleecemane Lion is a way better blocker and it can actually attack. Against aggressive decks or heroic decks it showed up to be pretty good. Even though the lion dies most of the immediately it does way more than the Caryatid. Having access to a creature that can attack also helps a bit with planeswalkers so I cut Utter End from both sideboard and main deck and when the Lion is monstrous it usually stays on the table. I was thinking about cutting one Courser of Kruphix and adding another Fleecemane Lion, in the end I left it as it was. I was considering playing Wingmate Roc as this card managed to kill me many times, but I'll rather play End Hostilities to deal with those birds. There is one card though that I wanted to try. The card I wanted to add to my deck was a creature or a threat in general...so that is how Tasigur, the Golden Fang ended up in the deck. At first it did not really seem to do much, but my opponents actually had to deal with it and I at least got a replacement card. (most of the time it was Courser of Kruphix). So after some thought about that...I decided that it is actually worth it (and during the tournament it was usually target number one).

As for sideboard. I took out Utter End, End Hostilities and Bile Blight (and wingmate rocs) so I could replace those cards with other ones. I left 1 End Hostilities there, added 3 Anafenza and 1 Back to Nature. I was thinking about adding Elspeth but that did not happen^^ I did not regret having Back to Nature there instead of Elspeth. I always managed to hit more than one card with it.

Junk Control
By STsung

Creature [11]
3 Fleecemane Lion
4 Siege Rhino
2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
4 Courser of Kruphix

Instant [12]
4 Bile Blight
4 Abzan Charm
4 Hero's Downfall

Sorcery [6]
2 End Hostilities
4 Thoughtseize

Land [25]
4 Temple of Malady
4 Temple of Silence
3 Llanowar Wastes
3 Windswept Heath
3 Forest
1 Plains
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
2 Caves of Koilos
4 Sandsteppe Citadel

Planeswalker [4]
2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 Sorin, Solemn Visitor

SB: 3 Read the Bones
SB: 1 End Hostilities
SB: 2 Unravel the AEther
SB: 3 Drown in Sorrow
SB: 2 Nissa, Worldwaker
SB: 3 Anafenza, the Foremost
SB: 1 Back to Nature

When FRF came out people started to change their decks a bit, they were trying new cards and were trying to figure out what to play. Those games were actually quite fun and I did not need to face a mythic card after a mythic card. In the end it all came down to the (almost) very same decks they played when only KTK was around and it started to get boring once again^_~. But because the last two tournaments did not make me angry and I had relatively fun during them I decided to participate in the GPT Krakow.

I got a bye in the first round so I wasn't particularly happy but in the end why not. I at least got the time to wake up and check what other people play. There were Sultai Whip decks, Abzan Aggro, Boros Aggro, Mardu Warriors, UB Control, Abzan Midrange, UW Heroic... So I wondered what I would play against in the next round and the only deck I did not want to play was UB Control. I was paired against Mardu Warriors. I helped the player to build the deck the day before so I knew what I was against. I knew that game 1 is not really favorable but after sideboarding I should win relatively easily (I did not know his SB though so who knows what would face me). Anyway the first game was pretty close. I managed to play 2 Rhinos which would seem sufficient, but after seeing his hand with two Hordechiefs I wasn't really sure what I can do. I would be down to 0 if he would play the Hordechief and attack with everything on the table. I top decked courser of Kruphix though, played a land, gained one life and that was game. I couldn't lose the second game so I my opponent got upset about it. But anyway he did not say a word except that I should go 5:0 and win the GPT. I was like 'whatever...'.

Next I played against Sultai Whip. I don't know if that's just me but I haven't seen this deck do what it should do against me. I killed all possible threats and killed my opponent quite easily. He was rather too mana flooded and milled his Whip so it was ok. Hornet Queen was a bit annoying but he had to trade all of his creatures in order to survive so that was ok. In the second game I boarded in Anafenzas and Unravel the Aether. I played Anafenza after Anafenza till one managed to stay in play and won.

After this I played against Abzan Aggro. I thought I would lose the first game but in the end I managed to win. I was down to 1 life because I couldn't deal with Rakshasa Deathdealer and Siege Rhino would kill me. I had Elspeth in my hand though and another one was on the top of my library. I did not have a sixth land to play it so I hoped to get it and be able to win as fast as possible (the card underneath was Thoughtseize...^^). My creatures that were currently on the table had to trade or chump (mostly the latter). I drew the land finally, played Elspeth and created three tokens. I hoped that my creatures wouldn't die to Bile Blight or that I wouldn't die to top decked Rhino. My opponent played few creatures but none of them was Rhino and he did not hit Bile Blight so I won using Elspeth's ultimate ability later. Uff. In the second game after I sided in Read the Bones and Anafenza I kind of had everything I needed.

Then I played against UB Control. I did not look forward to that game. After a late game Thoughtseize I saw that I couldn't win but it took ages for my opponent to kill me. I won the second game somehow?. In the deciding game I tried to desperately hit Courser of Kruphix/Siege Rhino for life gain and End Hostilities to get rid of Silumgar that was killing me. Unfortunately for me my End Hostilities ended up in the RFG or graveyard (Ashiok? or something else?) so I was kind of screwed and I couldn't deal 17 damage in time. I was down to 10 when I decided to still play Read the Bones so I would have at least some chance to get something. I hit Courser of Kruphix that gained me 4 life but in the end I was one life short in order to survive the game. I lost the game when my opponent played Ugin (preceded with 3 Dig Through Times). He decided not to bolt me (I was at 3 life) but rather killed me the next turn by Silumgar's attack and this time Ugin's Bolt^_~ in the last additional turn.

Next I was wondering whom I would play. In the end I played against Abzan Aggro again. We had quite a Siege Rhino battle. My opponent had more Rhinos but Tasigur showed up to help me against them so we were staring at each other for a while...till my opponent attacked, played Bile Blight on my Rhinos and killed them in the process (they weren't blocking Rhinos). So I just Ended Hostilities and we started all over again. I played Elspeth the turn after and she actually managed to win. I won the second game as well somehow, I don't really remember how.

In the finals I was supposed to play against UB Control. I was prepared to play the final match because it would be nice to win something from time to time^_^ but decided against it in the end. Patrik was asking me during the tournament if I go to GP Krakow. I said 'no' because I simply don't have the money for it (I wasn't aware that this Trial was actually to Krakow). When the TO told me this I decided to concede because Patrik is actually one of the few players that don't have the byes for the GP and who is actually going there.

I received about ten packs for my efforts and decided to open them....I opened Tasigur and not much else...^_^. The tournament was fun, I had a great time and did not regret going to the PTQ.

Najada League Top 8 Draft

I really wonder how you guys/gals take selfies. I tried several times and most of the time such photos look horrible.

At the end of December another season ended and that usually means that there is current block draft for the Top 8 players in Najada League. This year I decided not to play much magic and it shows hell a lot on my PWP. From having two byes on GP to zero this year. Anyway I somehow managed to be in the top 8 in the last season. Khans of Tarkir changed that. I really like the set. I loved all the prereleases, releases and the few drafts I played (3?).

Because of the fact that in the before before last^_~ Top 8 Draft I really ended up badly because of not knowing the cards (not that my deck would be bad) I decided to play one draft with the set not to end up last. We were two with same record but I was the one who came second.

Anyway this Top 8 Draft came out of the blue. I haven't played much in Najada's tournament because I primarily played one format twice a week which meant that I spent twice less time in Najada then last time (because I was attending tournaments in other game store). Anyway even with this I came up high enough to be near the top 8 (15 points away so if I would have wanted I could have possibly made it). I did not reach it for sure though. But strange coincidences happen and I ended up playing in the draft. This time I knew more or less what to expect because I actually played with the set a bit (and even that was way more than with any other set post-new-Ravnica) but the other players were drafting it for few months.

I opened my pack and saw 5 cards I wanted to pick. It wasn't the rare but 2 uncommons and 3 commons. Two of these cards would send me into 3 color deck and I wasn't really sure that was what I wanted to do. In the end I decided to pick the rare to make my decision easier - Duneblast which seemed as a good back up plan anyway. So my colors where set - Junk. In the next pack I picked Abzan Guide. This was followed by two Tusked Colossodons which I wasn't really proud of. One seemed to be enough for the deck...but I did not see anything better in the pack either. Next few picks were actually red (Trumpet Blast and Act of Reason), there weren't any white/green or black creatures present or they were completely useless. I picked Rite of the Serpent because it was the only removal spell that went my way (did not even manage to play it during the tourney). After the first pack I wasn't even sure if I should still try to pick Junk cards. I collected two Throttles and some strange creatures like War Behemoth and Salt Road Patrol and I was ready to pick anything with Morph I could possibly play (Abomination of Gudul). Nothing awesome...small and cheap creatures were inexistant. My five last picks were all banners. Three of them were Sultai. ^_^. Anyway in my third pack I opened Sagu Mauler so I simply had to pick that. Next I managed to pick Sultai Scavengers and Swarm of Bloodflies. That was good but still nothing for early game...no walls, no little abzan creatures with outlast or...what could I have? Well any 2/2 for 2 or other 'Bear' would make me happy...

In the end I played this deck and I was actually quite content with it except...the Banners that's something I really did not want to play...but I had no other choice.

Feat of Resistance
Ainok Bond-Kin
Mardu Hordechief
3x Sultai Banner
Sagu Mauler
Duneblast
Salt Road Patrol
Unyielding Kumar
War Behemoth
Sagu Archer
Abzan Guide
2x Throttle
Swarm of Bloodflies
Rite of the Serpent
Tusked Colossodon
2x Sultai Scavenger
Hooting Mandrills
Become Immense
Alabaster Kirin

I somehow managed 2:0. Sagu Mauler won me two games and Swarm of the Bloodflies won another one. In the fourth game I simply had better board presence. I lost against Legolas whose deck was full of good cards He played a four color deck with Sidisi, some 5/5s, Sagu Mauler (and Rattleclaw Mystic) and some nice tempo cards. I got mana screwed in one of the games and in the second one I just couldn't stand a chance. Killing Sidisi or anything that was already on the table was only possible with Duneblast but I did not live long enough to even cast it (I did not reach even 7 lands).

In the second draft my first pick was actually a random card and I passed Dragon-Style Twins. I did not really care how I would end up and was too tired to even think straight. Anyway the card I picked was actually white. I started picking Junk cards once again but this time I wanted to try the outlast theme (that was a really BAD idea). Anyway I somehow ended up with Ainok Bond-Kin, Tuskguard Captain and Longshot Squad (but I passed the Deathtouch one...*facepalm*). I also got Armament Corps. Removal was bad and I did not have any back up plan^_^. I also passed one more Abzan Guide (picked Throttle instead because I really needed removal). Not sure if that was a good idea. But well my deck lacked Morphs and it contained creatures that actually would have to stare at other creatures on the other side of the table...that wasn't good (you know I'm not good with attacking and I had hard time figuring out what abilities my creatures have). In my second pack I expected something good and big like Wingmate Roc^_^ but instead I was sooo lucky to open a foil Flooded Strand so I picked it without thinking and went through the rest of the pack. I passed Flying Crane Technique hoping it wouldn't kill me and waited for something from the next pack. I picked some green creatures and each time I saw a card I didn't know I picked it (Bitter Revelation - interesting that's actually a common...hm, Tuskguard Captain, Kheru Bloodsucker). I was like...'Oh man, I opened a foil fetchland, however this ends I'll be leaving with the most money - most probably^_^). So to my surprise in the last pack I opened Wingmate Roc! I picked some lands in the last pack and some blue cards that I could possibly splash but I had only junk lands so in the end...no blue.

Chief of the Scale
Ainok Bond-Kin
Archers' Parapet
Defiant Strike
Woolly Loxodon
Kill Shot
Tuskguard Captain
Kheru Bloodsucker
Alpine Grizzly
Abzan Guide
Bitter Revelation
Salt Road Patrol
Longshot Squad
Smite the Monstrous
Wingmate Roc
Armament Corps
Throttle
Hooting Mandrills
2x Tusked Colossodon
Sultai Scavenger
War Behemoth
Rotting Mastodon

In the fourth/first round I played a mirror match. That was the worst that could happen to me...I outlasted my creatures, my opponent did the same, I started attacking later (kind of forgot that my guys had first strike and trample and could get through deathtouch anyway) but it was already too late and I somehow ridiculously died. All I needed was a bigger beater but such a creature did not show up (except for starting to attack earlier). In the second game I lost due to once again not being able to draw a bigger creature and I also lacked second green source for some reason. (had the problem all three rounds so it was most probably my mana base being wrong). After this round I had to either win twice or not 'win' any prizes. 'win' because the draft is for free and all of us get some prizes (yeah, ending up in the top 8 actually takes time and money so we deserve it^_~ or well those that end up there that is). I won the last two rounds^_^. In the last round I lost the first game due to being mana screwed. In the second game I got a good hand though. I had some smaller creatures and two colossodons. I played one and waited for my opponent to triple block it. He expected a removal spell but still blocked it. I did not have the removal ... but I had the second 6/5 in my hand. That was already too much for him. I chumped his attack with one of my guys so I could play Hooting Mandrills and Longshot Squad and the game was over then. In the third game I just got an ideal curve and won as well.

In the seven packs I won I opened another Flooded Strand^_^. The tournament was really awesome except few moments in which I had the urge to strangle some of the players but even that wasn't enough to ruin my mood that day (partly yes, I was pretty upset in the last round, and after being mana screwed in game 1 I did not really see myself as the winner of the match...but that soon ended after I saw my opener).

So now I'm seriously considering playing in enough tournaments to get to the top 8 once again. Can I do it? Without paying a fortune for it? Anyway if I choose to try I'll need to figure out what to play in addition to legacy or in general attend more tournamnets. (waiting for the banlist!!) In the meantime I have one week to figure out how to collect 400EUR to pay for the rent...(but I still have quite a lot of foil cards I don't really need^^)

Life from the Loam and Dark Ritual

my mood being really gloomy...I decided to alter at least something I could possibly sell.

Jubeat on iphone

One of my Christmas presents was iphone 4s. My previous smartphone was stolen and from that moment on I decided not to bother actually getting a new phone. Why should I have it? People who call me or type me are either my family or Magic players both of which can communicate via different means. My father decided to get a new iphone for Christmas and thus probably my parents decided that I might appreciate his old iphone. I'm not a fan of Apple products but there are things I can actually appreciate on some of those products.

I have to say that setting up Apple ID and some of the iOS applications was already a nightmare of its own. I had to enter login and password so many times that I wonder how can someone actually forget his Apple ID and pwd. I admit that sometimes I was wondering if I should actually enter the same data...that I was asked to type x times before it already. And that's not everything each login actually meant two different emails that ended up in my mailbox (confirmation email and verification email). My mailbox already contains 15115 unread mails so these added to that...ok why not. At least I'll know if someone messes with my phone^^.

After finally setting some services and stuff I managed to install Garmin Connect (which was the reason why I was setting the phone at that time) and once again I was prompted for some info and login/password...I almost went crazy.

After this I moved around some app icons so I would have calculator and camera on the first screen etc. I downloaded some applications later on..those I would most probably use - Facebook and File Manager (actually bought that but I'm not sure if it was worth it, anyway connecting to the phone via webserver is something I actually understand - I used itunes if I remember correctly to get some data from my mother's ipad and that's something I don't want to do again). I also downloaded Magic: The Gathering rules because that's one of the things I actually missed (during the time without a smartphone or any kind of 'smart' device) and some games SolForge, Jewel Galaxy and Jukebeat. I also tried the camera and I was surprised that the photos are actually of a good quality (or well of way better quality than I expected). Now I can bother you guys with photos of anything that I find interesting^_^ hehe

During the last day of the 2014 year I managed to download majority of the Jukebeat songs (KONAMI original songs I mean...) so now I have a music game I can actually play during the night not waking up everyone in the building (because IIDX and PNM arcade style controllers are really loud!! need to see how much calories I 'possibly' burn while playing those games^^).

I decided to take a video of Jubeat on iphone. I thought that it might be at least a bit interesting to see but in the end it seems rather boring^_^... I played the game for the first time on iphone so I wasn't really sure how to approach playing the game. Certainly in a different way than on a bigger controller. (next time I'll figure that out)