FNM: Scales again
Played Standard at FNM, for apparently the first time in over a month. (3 of the missing weeks were cons, and I think the one other Standard didn't go off.) I hadn't looked at my deck in weeks, and at first it was in a huff and gave me some bad hands, but I ended up in second place for the night.
2 Abzan Falconer
1 Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit
4 Avatar of the Resolute
0 Collected Company finally took this out
1 Become Immense +1, I just want the chance for this blowout
1 Den Protector
4 Dromoka's Command
4 Hangarback Walker
4 Hardened Scales
2 Heir of the Wilds
3 Inspiring Call
4 Managorger Hydra +1, having acquired the fourth
4 Servant of the Scale
2 Surrak, the Hunt Caller
1 Winds of Qal Sima
1 Undergrowth Champion
2 Canopy Vista
9 Forest -1
5 Plains
4 Windswept Heath
2 Wooded Foothills
side:
2 Abzan Battle Priest
2 Collected Company +2, took out the Whisperwoond Elementals
2 Feat of Resistance
2 Hidden Dragonslayer
2 Silkwrap +2, for when I just have to have removal
2 Valorous Stance
0 Whisperwood Elemental -2, not good with 22 land
2 Winds of Qal Sima
1 Windstorm
Match 1, I was playing against Kylani Pekli, a very new player running a green/red landfall deck. I felt bad that I had to call the judge when she played an Elvish Mystic, which isn't legal in Standard. I beat her easily in the second game. Round 2, Lance McGuinness was playing red/green Battle Rage combo. I rolled over him game 1. Game 2 I thought he had me, but he didn't have Battle Rage, only Become Immense, so he got me down to 1, and then I surprised him with Winds of Qal Sima and finished killing him the next round. Round 3, Jonathan Benison was playing his Mardu Warriors. I rolled over him game 1. Game 2 he held me down with removal and beat me up with Chief of the Edge. Game 3 was kind of a standoff for a while, with neither of us able to stick big threats, but I wore him down. Round 4, I faced Ryan Searby, who was playing a deck that might be called Green Mardu Planeswalkers. A lot of control, a lot of planeswalkers, Hangarback Walkers. Game 1, he killed two 3/3 Hangarbacks, and then the next turn dropped Sorin and swung for 12 with lifelink. Then I swung back with 2 large Managorger Hydras and passed the turn. He cast Duress, and I responded by playing my Winds of Qal Sima, letting him take the Dromoka's Command that was my other card. These two spells had made my Hydras nearly big enough to be lethal, and on my turn I played Inspiring Call, letting me draw 4 and growing the Hydras to lethal. The next two games didn't go so well for me -- I'd only gotten there because he had mana problems, which he didn't have. With both Duress and Despise, he ripped my hands (which were mediocre to start with) to shreds, and schooled me on how much of a powerhouse Gideon, Ally of Zendikar is. I never even saw one of the stars of his deck -- Pia and Kiran Nalar.
2 Abzan Falconer
1 Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit
4 Avatar of the Resolute
0 Collected Company finally took this out
1 Become Immense +1, I just want the chance for this blowout
1 Den Protector
4 Dromoka's Command
4 Hangarback Walker
4 Hardened Scales
2 Heir of the Wilds
3 Inspiring Call
4 Managorger Hydra +1, having acquired the fourth
4 Servant of the Scale
2 Surrak, the Hunt Caller
1 Winds of Qal Sima
1 Undergrowth Champion
2 Canopy Vista
9 Forest -1
5 Plains
4 Windswept Heath
2 Wooded Foothills
side:
2 Abzan Battle Priest
2 Collected Company +2, took out the Whisperwoond Elementals
2 Feat of Resistance
2 Hidden Dragonslayer
2 Silkwrap +2, for when I just have to have removal
2 Valorous Stance
0 Whisperwood Elemental -2, not good with 22 land
2 Winds of Qal Sima
1 Windstorm
Match 1, I was playing against Kylani Pekli, a very new player running a green/red landfall deck. I felt bad that I had to call the judge when she played an Elvish Mystic, which isn't legal in Standard. I beat her easily in the second game. Round 2, Lance McGuinness was playing red/green Battle Rage combo. I rolled over him game 1. Game 2 I thought he had me, but he didn't have Battle Rage, only Become Immense, so he got me down to 1, and then I surprised him with Winds of Qal Sima and finished killing him the next round. Round 3, Jonathan Benison was playing his Mardu Warriors. I rolled over him game 1. Game 2 he held me down with removal and beat me up with Chief of the Edge. Game 3 was kind of a standoff for a while, with neither of us able to stick big threats, but I wore him down. Round 4, I faced Ryan Searby, who was playing a deck that might be called Green Mardu Planeswalkers. A lot of control, a lot of planeswalkers, Hangarback Walkers. Game 1, he killed two 3/3 Hangarbacks, and then the next turn dropped Sorin and swung for 12 with lifelink. Then I swung back with 2 large Managorger Hydras and passed the turn. He cast Duress, and I responded by playing my Winds of Qal Sima, letting him take the Dromoka's Command that was my other card. These two spells had made my Hydras nearly big enough to be lethal, and on my turn I played Inspiring Call, letting me draw 4 and growing the Hydras to lethal. The next two games didn't go so well for me -- I'd only gotten there because he had mana problems, which he didn't have. With both Duress and Despise, he ripped my hands (which were mediocre to start with) to shreds, and schooled me on how much of a powerhouse Gideon, Ally of Zendikar is. I never even saw one of the stars of his deck -- Pia and Kiran Nalar.