2010 08/19 Thursday Night Magic Online

I had some time so I played in last week's Zendikar Block constructed for ThNM. Unlike Standard, this one seemed a lot less popular, I think there was about 30 or so players.

I don't know why, Block is a format that's really easy to get into (especially when a new set comes out and cards are being drafted like crazy). Perhaps people have focused on M11 since that's the current drafting of choice, but it's not like there's a Core Constructed format.

Anyways, I scrounged up some cards for a Mono White Control deck that uses the landfall mechanic + Lodestone Golem:



I chose this because I figured the sideboard was so strong against any red deck or vampire deck that someone might have thrown together. I liked the deck overall but it had 2 major problems that became very apparent to me:

1) Jace, or White Blue Control.
There are very little ways to deal with Jace, no Oblivion Ring. I maindecked a Kor Firewalker and a Kor Sanctifier to possibly be able to attack and kill Jace. I couldn't simply wait for the chance that I'd draw my Transcendent Master or get an Emeria Angel to stick.

2) Lodestone Golem on the play, on the draw.
Golem is a very good card in the right deck, just look at Vintage. However, if there ever was a game where I didn't get a Chalice opening, I found that Lodestone Golem wasn't as asymmetrical as I liked. On the play he's great turn 3-4. On the draw, coming down on turn 4 wasn't as powerful as I liked because the opponent probably had a better board or was working with 5 mana to get around the tax. Not to mention that on the draw, it'd be improbable that I could play turn 5 Emeria Angel and get an ensured landfall birdie.

Round 1 Game 1, Loss









Against White Blue, going first, mulling to 4.

I could have possibly kept either of the first 2 hands (drawing into a land would have maybe solved it), but I was on the play and am very wary of 1 land hands when playing a deck filled with such high mana costs.

He gets a Jace out quick and fateseals me a bunch so I can't fight back. 2nd game I bring in more Firewalkers, hoping to Journey to Nowhere any Walls and threaten Jace, but I don't see any and he sees his Luminarch Ascension.

Round 2, Bye

This was my opponent for Round 2:



It's a Korean film called Sad Movie, sad like my Round 1. I watched some of my favorite parts since I didn't feel like looking at anything Magic related.

Round 3 Game 1, Win



Against Vampires, my deck actually does what it is supposed to do and goes Emeria crazy. Consuming Vapors would have been good against Lodestone or Transcendent Master, but not against birds.

Round 3 Game 2, Win





Not again! Luckily my mull to 6 was seemingly ok, 2 lands, 2 cantrips to find that 3rd land, easy easy right?



My 3rd land was actually STILL 5 cards away, needing both Wall of O's to find it. Talk about torture.



After that though, the first Devout Lightcaster came down and stalled enough. I get Mindsludged but another Devout Lightcaster joins in and I get to start attacking back for profit.

Fin, 2-1

2-1 again, netting a pack of M11 and another Krosan Grip promo. Next ThNM is a 6pack Sealed, and thanks to my small winnings here and there over the past month, I'll get to play that for "free."

2010 08/05 Thursday Night Magic Online

(this post was originally slated for August 11, 2010, but due to scheduling issues couldn't be posted in time)

So, my first Thursday Night Magic experience was last week, which also happened to be MTGO's first one too.

The first thing I noticed is that there was a lot of confusion about the format.

It seemed that while people found out about ThNM, only when they were actually logged into the Premier Events room did they find out that this week was only going to be Standard Constructed. I guess some people thought that all the different formats (sealed/draft/constructed) were going to happen every week.

I felt slightly bad for the ORC adepts in there fielding the questions and frustrations.

It was Constructed, so I had to scrounge up a deck. I don't normally play competitively on MTGO. I stick to the casual room, usually never with a sideboard. I have several decks, a decent cardpool, and I generally just like to play whatever appeals to my fancy.

So I took a deck that I already had built from a previous Jacob Van Lunen's Building on a Budget column, basically White/Blue Conscription.



First, before I get yelled at, I realize this doesn't seem very budget at all. But it actually is.. for my budget, my way of acquiring cards, my playstyle and my enjoyment, it's perfect. I'll save the transformation of how it came from the exact deck in the article to what I actually play for a different post in the future.

Second, I know I was being greedy. 61 cards and only 22 lands, even with 3 Borderposts. This will cost me later in Round 2.

Third, I'm terrible at tourney reports, much like how I am terrible at tournies. So I decided to just give some snapshots about what happened.

Round 1 Game 3, Win



This was against Jund, one that ran some ramp spells like Rampant Growth and Borderland Ranger, Master of the Wild Hunt instead of Broodmates.

At this point we were 1-1 and I lucked out with a turn 5 Conscription thanks to Sovereign Chun Li teaming up with Knight of the White Sakura.

Round 2 Game 1, Loss



I was never in either game. While Knight of the White Orchid DID get me my 2nd land like it does on a good opening.. this 2nd land came on my turn 6.

Round 3 Game 2, Win



This was against White/Blue, but one without the Conscription angle. We both boarded in War Priests to handle Oblivion Rings but I wasn't expecting Crystallization too.

Eventually we get Sun Titans on the board but I'm the one who gets the Jace recur first.

Fin, 2-1



In the end I'm 2-1 so I get a pack of Magic 2011 and a copy of the Krosan Grip promo. The next Constructed ThNM will be Zendikar Block so I'll be working on what I'm playing.