Round 7: Courtney's Boys vs. Slay Pillage Gerard

By Toby Wachter

Courtney's Boys	Slay Pillage Gerard
Gary Wise	Jonathan Sonne
Neil Reeves	Gerard Fabiano
Bob Maher, Jr.	Scott McCord

Maher started his game with Hypochondria, and a few turns later Petravark took away the only island "The Great One" had. McCord took full advantage of the situation, playing two Aven Flock and destroying Hypochondria with Aven Cloudchaser. Battlewise Aven made the air even more crowded, and Shieldmage Advocate let him get past Maher's Phantom Flock for the win.

Wise used Last Rites to take away Seton's Desire and Gravegouger from Sonne, leaving him with Sutured Ghoul and lands. The game soon became a battle of Shades, as Sonne had the Nantuko variety while Wise had an unblockable Whispering one, as well as Soul Scourge. Sutured Ghoul came out a while later, giving Sonne a 6/6 monster. Morgue Theft helped put Sonne ahead. Wise summoned Filth, which was less impressive than usual since both of his creatures couldn't be blocked by Sonne anyway. The resulting attack required Wise to chump block to stay alive, and he scooped after drawing his next card.

Reeves had Barbarian Bully, Skywing Aven, Liberated Dwarf and Phantom Centaur to Fabiano's Wormfang Drake and Soul Scourge. Reeves eventually won the game, as his creatures were simply superior to Fabiano's.

Game 2 saw Maher summon Mystic Familiar, Shieldmage Advocate, Possessed Nomad and Vigilant Sentry. Once again, McCord used Petravark to take away Maher's only island. Maher found another island, but McCord played a second Petravark, and also cast Arcane Teachings on his first one. Maher was now stuck at three plains, while McCord built his forces with every passing turn. Things didn't improve much, and McCord was able to take the game and the match.

Sonne played a turn two Nantuko Shade, followed by a turn three Gravegouger. Wise used Prismatic Strands and Embolden in the following combat exchanges, and both were taken out with a second Gravegouger. The Shade was dominating at this point, and Wise told his teammates it wasn't looking good. Sonne used Sudden Strength to make things even worse. Waste Away killed the Nantuko Shade, and Sonne summoned Nullmage Advocate. Morbid Hunger brought Wise down to two, and Sonne attacked with both of his creatures. Fledgling Imp blocked and traded with Gravegouger, and Toxic Stench made the Advocate one power. This let Wise survive the attack at one life, and put Strands and Embolden back in his graveyard. Wise untapped, and played Stitch Together to get back Soul Scourge. Morgue Theft brought back Gravegouger, and it took Prismatic Strands. Psychotic Haze dealt the final point of damage, and gave Slay Pillage Gerard the match.

Fabiano opened Game 2 with Hydromorph Guardian and Elephant Guide, while Reeves had Phantom Centaur. Nullmage Advocate eventually destroyed the powerful enchantment, and Krosan Archer provided some defense. Treetop Sentinel gave Gerard a great blocker, but Reeves had three 2/3 creatures, and was able to attack through for the win.

Final Result: Courtney's Boys- 1 Slay Pillage Gerard- 2

Gary Wise, Seat A

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Creature (12)

1 Auramancer 1 Fledgling Imp 1 Whispering Shade 1 Angel of Retribution 1 Cabal Torturer 1 Faceless Butcher 1 Slithery Stalker 1 Soul Scourge 1 Zombie Trailblazer 1 Earsplitting Rats 1 Filth 1 Treacherous Werewolf

Sorcery (4)

1 Last Rites 1 Sickening Dreams 1 Battle Screech 1 Stitch Together

Instant (6)

1 Embolden 1 Ghastly Demise 1 Waste Away 1 Guided Strike 1 Prismatic Strands 1 Toxic Stench

Enchantment (1)

1 Sphere of Grace

Land (17)

11 Swamp 6 Plains

40 Cards

Sideboard (22)

1 Cephalid Scout 2 Cabal Inquisitor 1 Zombie Cannibal 1 Dwarven Recruiter 1 Epicenter 1 Lava Blister 1 Diligent Farmhand 1 Tainted Wood 1 Restless Dreams 1 Equal Treatment 1 Pay No Heed 2 Barbarian Outcast 1 Cephalid Aristocrat 1 Lead Astray 1 Mirror Wall 1 Wormfang Newt 1 Anurid Swarmsnapper 1 Centaur Rootcaster 1 Folk Medicine 1 Nantuko Tracer

Deal Another Hand

Neil Reeves, B Seat

Decklist Stats Sample Hand