Tourny Report from Cameron Miller

This is a recent Sealed Deck report from Boldo's where there were about 10 participants. They were Ray Placious, Steve McCarthy, Joe Shi, Pat King, Anthony King, Mike Restivo, Rosario, Les Hayes, myself, and a guy who pulled 2 Squee's (non-foil) in his Mercadian Starter deck. On a side note Pat King had an AMAZING deck with a Cateran Slaver, an Enforcer, and a Pit Raptor plus other mercenaries like Rathi Fiend etc. He had very little removal but he did have some decent white creatures like the 3/3 Rebel Uncommon from Prophecy (Rebel Squad?) and he appeared to have a very solid deck.

Here's my deck:

• 1 Rathi Assassin
• 1 Bog Elemental
• 1 Whip Sergeant
• 1 Orge Taskmaster
• 1 Deathgazer
• 1 Skulking Fugitive
• 1 Laccolith Rig
• 1 Rathi Intimidator
• 1 Despoil
• 1 Kris Mage
• 1 Shock Troops
• 1 Gerrard's Irregulars
• 1 Keldon Berserker
• 1 Stone Rain
• 1 Wild Jhovall
• 1 Cateran Brute
• 1 Ridgeline Rager
• 1 Flay
• 1 Rhystic Lightning
• 1 Sever Soul
• 1 Seal of Doom
• 1 Flowstone Crusher
• 1 Downhill Charge
• 9 Swamps
• 8 Mountains

This deck was very solid. I had good removal (7 possible sources if creature abilities are counted) and big fat creatures. The landkill worked very well and I usually sideboarded in a devastate if playing a three color deck or a deck with a lot of 1 toughness creatures. On to round one.

Round One: Ray Placious vs. Cameron Miller

Ray was playing a red, green, and black deck with cards like Ancient Hydra, Rhystic Lightning, Steal Strength, and some mediocre to below average cards.

Game One: Ray loses this game to big creatures, but this game was very straightforward and did include the use of a Rhystic Lightning and a Steal Strength. I use Sever Soul to eventually kill his Silt Crawler and attack for the win.

Game Two: Ray does better this game with a quick start with Kris Mage, the 1/1 flying mercenary and a 2/2 creature. I stabilize with a shock troops and then with a Keldon Berserker. A big play was when I cast Flay when Ray tapped out for the Hydra to make him discard a Spidersilk Armor and a Undertaker. I killed the Hydra on my next turn, but Ray had taken my life toll to around 5 and he proceeded to get me down to under four. Ray was hoping to draw a Rhystic Lightning during his last four or five turns, but he didn't draw it in time. Eventually 2-4 large creatures combined with some removal like Seal of Doom or a Sever Soul finish him.

Round Two: Joe Shi vs. Cameron Miller

Joe was playing a red,green, and white deck with cards like Nobel Purpose, Laccolith Titan, Thresher Beast, Chimeric Idol, Thopter Squadron, Excise, Squallmonger, and various smaller creatures.

Game One: Joe was victimized by a decent draw with various creatures and removal harming him. I managed to kill the Monger and the Titan with large removal, and I think some landkill helped in the process.

Game Two: Joe has a decent land draw, only he was lacking plains. When he got near his 7 mana for big creatures he did not cast any (he was holding white cards in his hand). I beat him down without being interrupted by too many threats.

2-0

Round Three: Les Hayes vs. Cameron Miller

Les was playing a black/white deck with bombs like Unnatural Hunger, Vendetta, a small rebel engine that included a Nightwind Glider, a Lightbringer and possibly a Thermal Glider? Les had a Carrion Wall for added defense and a Shaku aided in his deck.

Game One: This is a fairly close game until I play a Bog Elemental and "rig it up." Les then TD's Unnatural Hunger, and then he casts a Carrion Wall. I let the Elemental die and we are at a standstill with even life until Les draws a Agent and a Spineless Thug and attacks for the win on his next turn. Les cast Vendetta, Nightwind Glider, and a Lightbringer foils any assassination attempts; it felt like he "threw the kitchen sink at me."

Game Two: I think that I manage to win due to Landkill and Les did not draw too much threats. Big creatures maul him. I almost lose due to drawing three land in my opening hand and then not drawing anymore for 5-6 turns.

Game Three: I have a great hand if I draw into land. I do and I cast a lot of threats, and he can not keep up with them. The Whip Sergeant aided in the win, and the big unaffected by summening sickness creatures won very quickly. Two or more removal spells also aided in the win.

3-0

Semifinals: Steve McCarthy vs. Cameron Miller

Steve was playing a decent black/white deck with cards like Forced March, Cho-Manno Revolutionary, a Lightbringer, some good midsize creatures like Deepwood Ghoul, Bog Smugglers, Intimidation, and a few tricks like Ramosian Rally.

Game One: Steve draws three land then stalls at three for about 5-6 turns. I cast land, and small creatures. Steve enchants a Rathi Intimidator with a Magenta's Boon and I make a disgusting play error. I add red mana to my mana pool to a Muzzled Rager, and then I attack with the Berserker. Steve blocks, and I then add one black to my mana pool before damage is dealt. I am informed I can not do that and the Berserker dies. I manage to come back with massive removal, and big creatures. I remember killing Cho Manno and Steve was amazed with the amount of removal in the deck. I think Steve Force Marches but I have been holding back the Assassin in response to that play. I do not need it as I draw a Shock Troops and I sac it to deal the final two damage to him.

Game Two: I double mulligan but draw a hand with 2-3 land, 1 Seal of Doom, Sever Soul, and a Shock Troops. Steve starts to mount an assault but I manage to stabilize with removal, and landkill helped keep me out of any marching. Steve proceeds to draw plains, and I draw a Rhystic Lightning, and deal a point to Steve via a Kris Mage, and then Lightning him dead. A play error was made when I let a Rager die, but I felt the game was in hand when I drew the Lightning. This was just one of those "amazing mulligan" draws.

4-0

Finals: Joe Shi vs. Cameron Miller

Game One: This is a decent game, and the Titan makes its appearance. I think this was a close game but I manage to overwhelm him by massive removal and a few tricks.

Game Two: Joe casts spells like a Caved Sense Squallmonger, Titan, Thopter, Thresher Beast and other creatures but massive removal hurts him. Joe stabilizes and manages to kill my creatures, but I get him to one life. Within 2-3 turns I draw Despoil and I win.

5-0

That's all for now.