TNT FNM *3-2*

This past Friday, I (shockingly) playing in the FNM, and this week I decided to run my UW Superfriends deck. I ran the same list as here, but I cut the 2 Wall of Omens for a Gideon Jura and Condemn. I hadn't playtested the deck too much, so I didn't really know what to do with it, but that's what FNM is for! Play decks in a semi-casual environment, and get used to them. If I can build it, I will be playing UB Poison next time.

Round 1: GW Lifegain
As I was registering for the FNM, I saw someone filling out their slip to get a DCI number. She looked about 12 years old. Lo and Behold; that's who I am against round 1. We kept our opening hands, and she layed own a Leyline of Vitality, so I had no idea what I was getting into. As it turns out, it was a lifegain deck that didn't run Felidar Sovereign (she said it's on her christmas list). Game 1, I stuck Jace TMS and wound up -12ing with life totals at 8-50. Round 2, she got a turn 2 Ajani's Mantra, so my life total changes for her take up 3/4 of a page while my life total changed 5 times all game. She got as far as 47 life before I cleared the board and won with a pair of Colonnaides.

2-0
1-0

Round 2: BR Vampires
Game 1 I got a turn 4 Day of Judgement after sending his Bloodghast on a Journey to nowhere, so I blew him out. Game 2 I was hit so fast that I had almost no hope from the start, so I was bown out. But game 3 was an amazing game! He played a turn 2 Jinxed Idol, and immediatly sacrificed a creature to it. This is where things get interesting. After 2 turns I draw Squadran Hawk and am able to send it back his way. When Jinxed Idol is out, Day of Judgement is almost a completely dead card as it instantly gives me the Jinxed Idol. In fact, as long as he has the Idol, all my removal is dead. So onw I am in a terrible position, but am slowly getting his life down every way I possibly can. Keep in mind I have no ways to deal with Jinxed Idol in my 75. Eventually it was 7-10, I had the Idol, and we both had 1 creature (I think my Hawk vs his Lacerator). I animated my Colonnaide and bashed for 5 bringing it to 5-5. End of turn I sacrificed Hawk to Idol, he sacrificed Lacerator, and I sacrificed Colonnaide (I had no others) and Jace +2 to leave Doom Blade on top. He draws Blade, which is blank. I draw, and send a land to the bottom (he had 2 bloodghast in the bin). He draws a creature, plays it, and sacs it to Idol. I draw and it's 3-3. I draw Squack, play it, and pass, pitchign another land to his bottom. When he attacks, I block, sac to Idol, then he sacs to Idol, so I am stuck with it. I played another Hawk that my first had fetched, sac it to Idol and pass, now it's 1-1. Unfortunately anything he draws is live, so I lost to Jinxed Idol. I had no idea how to play against this card because I had never stared it down before, and I honestly think it's a great choice for aggro players to punish Control decks (especially with Bloodghast!!)

1-2
1-1

Round 3: UB Control
I played against Mark, further proving that it's impossible for Mark and I to NOT play eachother when we are at the same FNM. We were both 1-1, so whoever loses is out of prize contention, and drawing eliminates us both. Game 1 I was able to neutralize his threats and close the game out with Gideon and Hawks. Game 2 I completely messed up when I forgot to play my 4th land before playing Jace Beleran so I could have a Spell Pierce backup (he had 3 lands, so unless he Spell Pierced Jace, I would have been able to effectively counter back). But as it was, I forgot to play my land first, lost my Jace advantage, he took complete control from there and his life total never dropped below 20. Game 3 I don't have any notes on, and our life totals drop down to 14-23 in Mark's favor, and I did wind up losing so I think I got Grave Titaned? I don't remember....

1-2
1-2

Round 4: G-Wave Elves
Pairings were listed an I was set to play against the guy who Mark had beat round 1, and on my way over I happened to pass by Mark who quickly said to me "UW Proliferate Lux Cannon". Thanks for the tip! We sat down, played 3 turns, and it was announced that there was a re-pairing, so that free information wouldn't get cashed in on. Instead, I was paired against Charlotte, who I play against all the time. She always plays Mono-Green elves with Genesis Wave and 1 Eldrazi Monument (but were working together a trade so she can get a 2nd one from me). Day of Judgement was a champ as I was able to hold her back on mana by removing her Mana Elves, which in turn stopped the G-Wave. Despite that advantage, I won both games by using Jace's -12 ability, which was a little strange.

2-0
2-2

Round 5: MW Lifegain Fog
I was playing a deck that plays lots of Defenders, Perimeter Captain, Fog Effects, and Luminarch Ascension. Game 1 he got up to 27 life before I cleared the board and started bashing for 10 a turn with Colonnaide and Gideon. Game 2 started in a peculiar fashion when my t2 Squad Hawk attacking on t3 got hit with a Condemn... I gladly gained a life, and got it right back with another Squad Hawk. That game ended in the same fashion with him scooping after facing down my 2 turn clock, despite having Luminarch Ascension in play on t4.

2-0
3-2

In the days following the event, I have played with the deck alot, and today I cut the 4 Squadran Hawks from the deck and replaced them with 2x Spreading Seas (great against Control Man Lands, Valakut, and decent against aggro) Condemn, and Journey to Nowhere. I found that drawing more removal is more important than little 1/1s that aren't as insane as they are made out to be. I don't think I will have them in the board either as having a stream of creatures is nice against aggro, but I would rather Wall of Omens, and attacking their early Jace is less important, because Jace won't come down until turn 5 or 6 unless you tap out for counter backup. I have found that change to be effective. While this does give Venser less targets, I have found that +2ing to untap a land is plenty effective as people recognize how scary Venser's Ultimate is anyways. He is another Jace when Sea Gate or Spreadign Seas is inplay, and he makes your Day of Judgements better. I played a bunch of games against BUG control and found myself constantly winning, but I do need to diversify my testing.

Anyways, I need to wake up early for work in the morning, so I am signing off for now. Until next time, stay classy!